Several pro-Trump rioters reportedly identified as off-duty cops

Several cops are under investigation for their role in the insurrection into Capitol Hill last Wednesday. Two US Capitol Police officers have been suspended for their behavior during the riots that endangered the lives of lawmakers and Capitol Hill police among others. Federal agents are now carrying out an investigation to see if current and former law enforcement officers had a hand in the riot. Tim Ryan, an Ohio Democrat, said somewhere between 10-15 cops were under investigation over their role during the insurrection. One of the Capitol police officers were caught on tape taking a selfie with a MAGA rioter while two others were seen on video opening the barricades and ushering the rioters into Capitol Hill. Tim Ryan said he saw an officer wear a "Make America Great Again" hat, directing people around the building, reported CNN.

Two Virginia police officers, who reportedly took part in the riot and boasted about it being legal on Facebook, have been arrested, reported Daily Beast. One of them is an Army veteran and trained sniper. Jacob Fracker and Thomas Robertson, officers with the Rocky Mount Police Department, were charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority, and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, as per a criminal complaint filed against them. The two cops reportedly traveled to Washington DC on January 6th and were photographed inside the Capitol “making an obscene statement in front of a statue of John Stark.” 

The photo was posted on social media. Robertson not only defended his action but said he was "fucking proud" to "put skin in the game." Robertson said he was fighting for his freedom. “CNN and the Left are just mad because we actually attacked the government who is the problem and not some random small business ... The right IN ONE DAY took the f***** U.S. Capitol. Keep poking us,” wrote Roberson. "If you are too much of a coward to risk arrest, being fired, and actual gunfire to secure your rights, you have no words to speak I value," he added. Roberston did delete the post but we're not sure if he did it because he was a coward, scared of being fired or charged with sedition, or otherwise.

“Lol to anyone who’s possibly concerned about the picture of me going around... Sorry I hate freedom? Sorry I fought hard for it and lost friends for it? Not like I did anything illegal, WAY too much to lose to go there but, ya’ll do what you feel you need to lol,” he wrote. The pair who "took f***** U.S. Capitol" later claimed they did nothing wrong and or knew anything about the violence. The town of Rocky Mount confirmed the both of them were charged by federal authorities in connection with the riot but remain on “administrative leave” while the investigation was carried out.

Capitol Police acting Chief Yogananda Pittman confirmed on Monday that several officers were suspended. Pittman said the department "has been actively reviewing video and other open-source materials of some USCP officers and officials that appear to be in violation of Department regulations and policies. Our Office of Professional Responsibility will investigate these behaviors for disciplinary action, up to, and including termination. Several USCP officers have already been suspended pending the outcome of their investigations."

The complicity of cops with White supremacists and MAGA extremists is problematic in isolation but even more so when you consider the number of African-Americans being shot and killed by cops. Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Andre Hill were just some of the many unarmed Black Americans who were killed by White cops. While investigations into their deaths center around circumstantial evidence, rarely is the cop's political background taken into account. It just goes to prove that the Black Lives Matter protesters had a point when they claimed that White police officers were killing Black people disproportionately to White people and that the system is inherently racist.   

The federal investigation is a priority as officers have key skills that can aid the mob during a riot, including clearing rooms, taking custody of people, securing areas, and handling firearms. Democrats also raised doubts about the complicity of Capitol Police officers. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said he was shocked that rioters knew the location of lawmakers' offices. "Did they use the fact they were police officers to gain access in some way? That would be highly problematic. Did they go into the building and follow others who broke into the building? That would be highly problematic and could cost them their job," said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum.