HARTFORD, Conn. (WTIC Radio)—After Wednesday's attack on the nation's Capitol, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy is asking the U.S. Department of Defense for a complete review of the procedures involving its defense.
While outside the Connecticut State Capitol Monday afternoon, Murphy announced he was sending a letter to the Acting Secretary of Defense asking for a full review of the statutes and protocols covering defense measures for the U.S. Capitol and for changes to be put in place as soon as possible.
Based on the riot that took place at the Capitol Wednesday, Murphy said it was clear that Capitol police did not have the manpower to protect and defend the building.
"And yet it took four hours for the Department of Defense, specifically the National Guard, to get any kind of troop presence to defend the Capitol from attack. That is unconscionable. That is unacceptable," Murphy said.
According to Murphy, the current protocols in place, such as the process to request assistance from the Department of Defense, are "cumbersome and laborious."
The long process to request assistance delayed the call for help, and the need for National Guard troopers to prepare delayed the response time even more, Murphy said.
Radical reform is needed in how the Capitol is protected, Murphy said, partly because he doesn't believe this will be the last incident of its kind.
"Obviously there are big questions about what these lunatics are planning for this weekend and next week," Murphy said, with Democrats working to impeach President Donald Trump and with Inauguration Day up ahead, "but I think you have to assume that this insurgency against the federal government is going to continue into 2021."
Changes need to be implemented as soon as possible, Murphy said, that ensure that the military will be able to respond within 30 to 60 minutes rather than in a number of hours.
Murphy said he plans to continue working on improving the Capitol's defenses in the coming days with this correspondence.
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