Rep. Payne, Jr. Asks NJ Attorney General Grewal to Ensure State Agencies Cooperate with Federal Investigations into the Capitol Riots 

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. wants all New Jersey police officers held accountable if they participated in the Capitol Hill riot and insurrection on January 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C.

Rep. Payne, Jr. wrote a letter to Gurbir Grewal, Attorney General of New Jersey, and asked him to make sure all New Jersey’s law enforcement agencies and departments cooperate with federal investigations into whether any of their officers were part of that insurrection.  The insurrection killed five people, injured dozens of police officers, damaged the U.S. Capitol Building, and forced several members of Congress and staff to move to secured locations.

“It is becoming clear that at least some of the people involved in the attack were not random individuals, but part of an organized and well-trained effort to carry out domestic terrorist attacks on Congress,” said Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr.  “If any New Jersey officers or personnel joined in this act of sedition, we respectfully urge you to use every tool at your disposal to seek justice.”

Some rioters have been identified as off-duty members of police departments from other states, such as Virginia.  It has led many Americans, including elected officials, to state that such participation proves that violent racism still exists in police departments nationwide.  In the letter, Rep. Payne, Jr. wrote that “public servants, especially public safety officers, swear an oath to protect and defend the law and the U.S. Constitution.  If a police officer or other public safety official engage in seditious behavior against the U.S. Government that would rise to the highest level of criminality.”  The letter was supported by four members of New Jersey’s Congressional delegation: Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr., Josh Gottheimer, Frank Pallone, Jr. and Albio Sires.

The full letter is below.

January 15, 2021

The Honorable Gurbir S. Grewal

Attorney General of New Jersey

Richard J. Hughes Justice Complex

25 Market Street, P.O. Box 080

Trenton, NJ 08625

Dear Attorney General Grewal:

We respectfully urge you to ensure that all police departments in the State of New Jersey are fully cooperating with requests from federal law enforcement officials investigating the January 6, 2021 insurrection that led to the violent attack on the United States Capitol Building and the deaths of two United States Capitol Police Officers.

The horrific images of the attack on the U.S. Capitol have shocked the nation and we are extremely troubled to learn that police and other emergency departments nationwide are investigating their own members who were involved in the violence. U.S. Capitol Police Officers reported several participants in the attack showed police badges as they stormed the Capitol Building. Police and fire Departments in New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Sandford, FL and Rocky Mount, VA have already begun investigations into members who participated in the attack. If any New Jersey officers or personnel are found to have participated in this act of sedition, we respectfully urge you to use every tool at your disposal to seek justice.

It is becoming clear that at least some of the people involved in the attack were not random individuals, but part of an organized and well-trained effort to carry out terrorist attacks on Congress. According the U.S. Capitol Police, multiple participants in the attack had equipment such as radios, zip ties, two-way communicators, and flashbang grenades. One person that has been arrested allegedly had 11 explosive devices along with firearms and ammunition in his vehicle that was parked just south of the U.S. Capitol Building.

Public servants, especially public safety officers, swear an oath to protect and defend the law and the U.S. Constitution. And, we recognize the heroism of the New Jersey State Police officers and National Guard who have responded to this threat to our democracy by offering their services to ensure a secure and safe Presidential Inauguration on January 20^th. However, if a police officer or other public safety official engage in seditious behavior against the U.S. Government that would rise to the highest level of criminality. The ongoing threats against Congress and the inauguration of President-Elect Biden require an immediate response from all levels of law enforcement.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we respectfully urge you to ensure that all law enforcement agencies in New Jersey are fully cooperating with this investigation.

Sincerely,

           Donald M. Payne, Jr.

          Member of Congress