Capitol Police response to ‘Justice for J6’ rally cost over $1 million

Capitol Police confirmed on Thursday that responding to the “Justice of J6” rally that took place in September cost their department $1.3 million.

“The cost of September 18 is far less than the toll it would have taken on the American psyche had there been another attack,” Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a statement. “Our preparedness also provided our Department the ability to practice coordinating on site law enforcement assistance from partnering agencies, which ensures we have a strong contingency plan.”

According to Capitol Police, about $35 million from the Emergency Security Supplemental Act of 2021 had been put aside by Congress “for the USCP to reimburse partner law enforcement agencies for mutual aid.”

The cost of the Capitol Police’s response to the September rally was first reported by The Washington Post.

On Sept. 18, several hundred supporters of former President Trump arrived outside the Capitol to show solidarity with and protest the condition of those facing charges for allegedly participating in the Jan. 6 riot. 

Media news outlets noted that far fewer people attended the September rally than the demonstration that took place in January as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an effort to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential win.

Amid the circulation of information at the time regarding possible threats, officials, dreading another possible riot similar to the one witnessed on Jan. 6, vowed that they would not take any chances with the event and would make sure security was beefed up.

“I think we would be foolish not to take seriously the intelligence that we have at our disposal. How credible it is — how likely it is — people can make those judgments,” Manger said in a press conference a day before the rally. 

“But the fact of the matter is that we are hearing some chatter that I think would be responsible for us to plan the way we’ve been planning and put the precautions in place,” he continued.