Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré to lead review of ‘security infrastructure’ after Capitol attack
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., announced Friday that she has tasked retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré with leading a review of the U.S. Capitol’s security in the wake of the deadly Jan. 6 attack.
“To protect our Democracy, we must now subject the security of the U.S. Capitol Complex to rigorous scrutiny,” Pelosi said in a statement. “To that end, I have asked Lt. General Russel Honoré (Ret.), a respected leader with experience dealing with crises, to lead an immediate review of the Capitol’s security infrastructure, interagency processes and procedures, and command and control.”
Honoré is best known for his role as commander of the task force that was in charge of the U.S. military response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He said that he has experience with military support to civilian authorities and specifically the security of the Washington region.
Honoré has been outspoken about the attack on Twitter, saying on the day of the breach that it was a “show.”
For the record I served on the joint chief of staff as deputy J3 operations, my job was military support to civil authority. I generally know how this shit supposed to happen today secure the Capital. This was a shit show today the @CapitalpoliceLS were on their Ass @11thHour
— Russel L. Honore' (@ltgrusselhonore) January 7, 2021
He also wrote on Twitter that to “prevent the miscommunication that resulted in the lack of adequate security at the Capitol,” an overarching office be created for the capital region. The office would be responsible for safety and security in the area and would coordinate the agencies that protect the government and Washington, D.C.
The attack at the Capitol has left members of Congress furious and shaken with many fearing for their lives during the riots. The Democrat-led House moved swiftly this week to impeach President Donald Trump for inciting an insurrection, a vote that received bipartisan support with a handful of Republicans crossing party lines to support impeachment.
Pelosi addressed efforts to secure the Capitol in the wake of the deadly siege at a press conference Friday, saying, “Following the attack last week on the Capitol complex, there has been the unprecedented mobilization of security in the Capitol. I want to express gratitude to our Capitol police, to the National Guard who are present here to protect our democracy.”
The Capitol riot took place after Trump repeatedly made false claims that the election had been stolen from him and urged his supporters to fight back.
In the wake of the deadly siege, security has been intensely ramped up at the Capitol ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, which is set to take place in just a few days on January 20.
Pelosi said during her news conference, “We must subject this whole complex to scrutiny in light of what happened and the fact that the inauguration is coming.”
The House speaker added during her press conference, “Members are moving forward with strong oversight from committees, of course, to have after-action review. There is strong interest in the Congress in a 9/11 type commission an outside commission to conduct that after-action review. In the meantime, I’m very grateful for general Honoré for taking on this responsibility.”
Pelosi described Honoré as “a respected leader with experience dealing with crises.”
