New Capitol Police chief: Jan. 6 was not a ‘lovefest’

The new U.S. Capitol Police chief is pushing back against those who describe the Jan 6. insurrection as a “lovefest” or a “normal tourist visit.” 

“That’s not the way I saw it,” Tom Manger told CNN, adding that everyone was “entitled” to their own opinion. 

Manger was referring to former President Trump’s comments during an interview in which Trump described a rally before his supporters stormed the Capitol as a “lovefest” and a “beautiful thing.”

“It was tremendous numbers of people, not the Capitol, I’m talking about the rally itself. It was a lovefest. It was a beautiful thing,” Trump said to Steve Hilton on Fox News in late February.  

Manger told CNN that in his new position as Capitol Police chief, he’s “in a position to do things to ensure that that wouldn’t happen again.”

“I’m in a position to ensure that these men and women have what they need to do their job,” he said.

Manger’s remarks come ahead of a House select committee’s first hearing into the attack, which is scheduled for Tuesday. 

Manger said he will allow his officers to share their experiences during the Capitol siege, ensuring that their voices will be heard, CNN reported. 

Manger, who has been a police officer for 42 years, replaced Yogananda Pittman, who become the Capitol Police chief after the resignation of Steven Sund in the wake of the attack on Jan. 6.