Why would you take pictures of stairways and security checks?
Yeah:
People who joined Georgia GOP Rep. Barry Loudermilk for a Capitol complex tour on Jan. 5, 2021 photographed and recorded places “not typically of interest to tourists, including hallways, staircases, and security checkpoints,” according to materials released Wednesday by the Jan. 6 select committee.
“The behavior of these individuals during the January 5, 2021 tour raises concerns about their activity and intent while inside the Capitol complex,” panel chair Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) wrote in a letter to Loudermilk, renewing their request for testimony.
The video footage and new details released by the panel underscored lawmaker concerns that surfaced in the days after the Jan. 6 attack: that large tour groups appeared to surveil areas of the building a day before a violent mob smashed its way inside the Capitol. The select committee has evidence that at least one member of Loudermilk’s group returned to the Capitol the following day and recorded an ominous video message aimed at Democratic lawmakers.
“There’s no escape Pelosi, Schumer, Nadler. We’re coming for you,” the person said near the Capitol grounds, according to the video, released by the committee Wednesday. One member of Loudermilk’s tour group photographed an image of the plaque outside Nadler’s office, an image released by the panel as well.
Loudermilk has not been accused of any wrongdoing or having knowledge about the activities of any members of his group on Jan. 6, beyond their attendance at the rally that preceded the riot, headlined by Donald Trump.
In a statement, Loudermilk said the Capitol Police had already settled the matter: “As Capitol Police confirmed, nothing about this visit with constituents was suspicious.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told POLITICO the panel’s disclosure was “just more of the Jan. 6 [committee] going after political folks.”
Republicans have pointed to a recent letter from Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger characterizing the group’s behavior on Jan. 5 as benign, but the footage released by the select committee shows a more nuanced version of events.
They said they planned to use the American flag pole as a spear and rip the hair from Nancy Pelosi’s head.
And Loudermilk said they didn’t even attend the rally…