US Capitol Police distances itself from anonymous officers' statement slamming GOP leaders

The U.S. Capitol Police is making an effort to distance itself from a statement said to be released last week by anonymous officers who were critical of top Republicans for opposing a bipartisan commission on the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

In a statement rebuking the unidentified officers' missive, the U.S. Capitol Police said the agency "does NOT take positions on legislation." On Wednesday, May 19, the U.S. Capitol Police released a statement addressing the remarks circulating on social media, according to Business Insider.

"A statement is circling on social media, which expresses an opinion about the proposed legislation to create a commission to investigate January 6," the USCP said in a statement to Insider. "This is NOT an official USCP statement. The Department has no way of confirming it was even authored by USCP personnel."

The letter, which was sent on a U.S. Capitol Police letterhead, included a closing signature that read, "Proud Members of the United States Capitol Police." While it remains unclear which officers actually signed the letter, the officer who claims to have penned the unofficial statement shared details about it during a discussion with CNN's Jamie Gangel. He insisted that it "represents the views of 40 to 50 officers on the force and that the statement 'needed to be out there. It needed to be done.'"

"We members of the United States Capitol Police write this letter to express our profound disappointment with the recent comments from both chambers' minority leaders expressing no need for a January 6th commission," the letter said. "The brave men and women of the USCP were subjected to hours and hours of physical trauma which has led to months of mental anguish."

The statement also said, "If you look around the Capitol building, you still have doors that are broken, windows still smashed and in some cases missing. Officers are forced to go to work with the daily reminder of what happened that dreadful day."

It is "inconceivable that some of the Members we protect, would downplay the events of January 6th. Member safety was dependent upon the heroic actions of USCP," the letter continued.

The letter concluded saying, it "comes to you anonymously because as US Capitol Police Officers, we are expected to remain neutral and do our jobs with honor and integrity. It's unfortunate that our 'bosses' (Congress) are not held to the same standard that we, the USCP are."