On the morning of January 6, 2021, Officer Tarik Johnson, a 22-year veteran of the Capitol Police force, knew that something was amiss. That morning, he was assigned to his regular post at the Capitol entrance, overseeing the usual day-to-day operations at the Capitol.
Little did he know that he and his fellow officers were about to face one of the most challenging days of their career. The Capitol Police were overwhelmed by a large crowd of protesters that breached the Capitol’s perimeter, causing chaos and destruction.
While the events of that day were traumatizing for many, Officer Johnson had a unique vantage point in the unfolding chaos that revealed something even more sinister. In an exclusive interview with the Political Prisoner Podcast, Officer Johnson revealed that the attack on the Capitol was a complete set up.
Officer Johnson’s account of the day began with the police perimeter being breached shortly after ten am. He noted that groups had begun attempting to breach the gateways prior to the deadline of noon, but that the presence of police officers and barricades were sufficient to deter them.
That changed when the group of protesters began to grow. Within minutes, the Capitol grounds were packed with hundreds, if not thousands, of people. Officer Johnson witnessed many of them uncharacteristically carrying weapons and other potentially destructive items.
But what was most shocking, according to Officer Johnson, was that there was “zero control” from Capitol Police. He said there were no command and control centers set up and no additional officers mobilized to the scene. The entire response seemed to lack any organization or structure.
Officer Johnson believes that this lack of preparedness is indicative of something far more nefarious. He believes that a coordinated effort was made to allow the group of protesters to breach the Capitol grounds, despite the presence of police. It was as if, he believes, the Capitol was being deliberately set up to fail.
This sentiment is echoed by other Capitol Police officers, who report that the attack felt orchestrated from the start. One officer told the Associated Press that the attack was too organized for it to simply be a spontaneous event.
The absence of Capitol Police officers from key entrances also suggests that a certain level of coordination was in play. As Officer Johnson reports, the main entrance of the Capitol was open and unguarded.
Officer Johnson is now asking the public to reconsider their beliefs about the attack on the Capitol. He firmly believes that it was not a spontaneous event and that those responsible for the attack should be held accountable.
Indeed, the events of January 6 need to be thoroughly investigated. Whether the attack on the Capitol was a set up or not, Officer Johnson reminds us that it was a clear signal of the fragility of democracy, and that it must never be allowed to happen again.
