After an intense trial for former US President Donald Trump’s impeachment, the US Senate on Tuesday held the first public hearing for the US Capitol riots that played out on January 6 when the supporters of Trump stormed the Capitol to stop the certification of votes which would confirm Joe Biden as the 46th President of the country. 

The Senate is prepared to question various officials of the law enforcement agencies in the US about the details of the events that led to the violence at the US Capitol. Officials like the former House Sergeant at Arms, Acting US Metropolitan Police Chief, former US Capitol Police chief and former Senate Sergeant at Arms will be involved in the round of questioning. 

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A notion that kept echoing through various statements in the Senate chambers was alleging that the attacks carried out were “coordinated”.

Senator Gary Peters asked the witnesses to explain the statements, to which Steven Sund, the former US Capitol Police chief said, “One, these people came specifically with equipment. You’re bringing climbing gear to a demonstration. You’re bringing explosives. You’re bringing chemical spray, such as what Captain Mendoza had talked about. You’re coming prepared”, reported CNN. 

DC Metropolitan Police’s acting chief backed up the statements made by Sund and said, “My view is from the day of the incident. I think there were hand signals that were being used by several of the insurrectionists,” he said. “There was radio communication by several individuals that were involved … I certainly believe it was coordinated.”

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Captain Carneysha Mendoza, who is a vital part of the US Capitol Police, suffered severe burns, which have not healed since, after being sprayed with harmful chemicals which were “deployed by the rioters”. She said, “I proceeded to the Rotunda where I noticed a heavy smoke-like residue and smelled what I believed to be military grade CS gas – a familiar smell. It was mixed with fire extinguisher spray deployed by the rioters. The rioters continued to deploy CS inside the rotunda”, reported CNN.