Lafayette Park Was Cleared for Fencing, Not Trump Photo Op, Watchdog Finds

Strategic Insights -

US Park Police and the Secret Service had already planned to clear Washington, DC's Lafayette Park to install new fencing in June 2020, according to an internal watchdog report. The plan was not tied to former President Donald Trump's now-infamous photo op at St. John's Church. Law enforcement officials used tear gas and forceful methods to clear peaceful protesters from the area, despite claims of clearing the park for Trump's benefit. The watchdog concluded that the US Park Police didn't know about Trump's plans until hours after the clearing operation began.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US Park Police and Secret Service planned to clear Lafayette Park to install new fencing, not to enable Trump's photo op at St. John's Church.
  • The clearing operation was not related to Trump's visit, as previously believed, but rather a pre-planned response to destruction of property and injuries to officers on May 30 and 31.
  • The US Park Police did not know about Trump's plans to walk through the park and take a photo until the afternoon of June 1, hours after the clearing operation began.
  • Law enforcement officials used tear gas and forceful methods to clear peaceful protesters from Lafayette Square.
  • The protests took place in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder by a former Minneapolis police officer and Trump's vow to meet rioters and looters with force.
  • The watchdog's report supports assertions by Episcopal leaders that Trump's photo op was not a prayerful moment, but rather a carefully staged event.

Statistics:

  • June 1, 2020: Date of the clearing operation in Lafayette Park.
  • May 30 and 31, 2020: Dates of destruction of property and injuries to officers that prompted the clearing operation.
  • June 1, 2020: Date of Trump's photo op at St. John's Church.
  • 7: Number of federal judges who have had past brushes with Trump and are now helping to decide the Capitol rioters' fate.

Sources:

  • (https://www.doioig.gov/reports/review-us-park-police-actions-lafayette-park)
  • (https://www.businessinsider.com/judges-capitol-riot-january-6th-cases-trump-dc-2021-6)