BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) "Justice will be served - there's no doubt about it," said
Peter Ahearn, former head of the Buffalo FBI, now with Ahearn Consulting LLC.
He joined WBEN Friday morning from his suburban D.C. office to discuss the assault on the U.S. Capitol.
Stunning images on Wednesday showed the Capitol police force quickly overwhelmed, unprepared, and hesitant about the use of force
as the capitol was being breached.
Ahearn was asked why the use of force was not used more often. "That's a determination that's made on the scene," he said.
"What's really going to be important, is the comparison between what happened over the Summer with the social justice demonstrations, and Wednesday's demonstration by a mob of pro-Trump supporters." Ahearn says a use of force determination should have been made at the time the riots were happening, but they were clearly overwhelmed.
"There was obviously a lack of planning and no expectation that anyone would do that," he said. "Law enforcement and the people securing the facility should have had a plan ready to go. And they should have had resources and assets in reserve, if things were going to go bad."
The District of Columbia is a federal city. The security decisions that are made, are made by Capitol Police. The first line of reserves, are D.C.Metro Police. "If you're planning in advance, you would also have the National Guard on standby."
The most disturbing images for Ahearn are from last Summer with the social justice protests. "Look at the amount of law enforcement and the National Guard that were standing by the Lincoln Memorial." He asks what was the difference with the crowd this week at the Capitol? "Clearly there's a double standard."
Ahearn said hindsight is going to be 20/20. "People are going to go back and look at this. There have already been a handful of resignations." He expects more to come.
Still to be determined is where the Department of Justice will stand on prosecution. "There are going to be charges as serious as murder, assault on a federal officer, as well as criminal trespass, and destruction of government property, which are misdemeanors," said Ahearn.
"The FBI will investigate the most serious crimes. There were two pipe bombs at the headquarters of the DNC and RNC. That's going to be a priority. The murder is going to be a priority as well as assault on a federal officer. They're also going to be looking at the organization and social media. Who are the leaders, and make the decision of who they are going to go after and prosecute," he said.
