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An independent media investigation has sparked a congressional inquiry into alleged perjury by U.S. Capitol Police, as reported in an analysis by investigative journalist Steve Baker of Blaze News.
U.S. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), who chairs the Committee on House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight with jurisdiction over Capitol Police, sent a letter on March 1 to USCP Chief J. Thomas Manger, as highlighted by Baker.
The letter, spanning four pages, requested more comprehensive information regarding a 2016 disciplinary report involving Special Agent David Lazarus and details about an internal affairs investigation of Lazarus from last November prompted by Blaze Media’s reporting.
Loudermilk’s letter specifically mentioned that on Nov. 7, 2023, Lazarus was referred to the USCP Office of Professional Responsibility for allegedly providing untruthful testimony in a significant criminal court case related to an incident at the Capitol building on January 6, 2021.
WATCH:
The congressman pointed out findings from Baker’s investigation in October which indicated that Lazarus could not have witnessed events on Jan. 6 as he claimed during the Oath Keepers trial, as video evidence showed he was elsewhere in the Capitol at that time.
Loudermilk’s letter also provides an additional detail that, if true, would raise additional questions about federal prosecutors’ conduct of the Oath Keepers’ trial. According to Loudermilk, OPR investigators “relied on the statements of a federal prosecutor in the case in which Special Agent Lazarus was called as a witness.”
Blaze Media also learned from a congressional source that federal prosecutors “were definitely consulted/interviewed” by Capitol Police investigators during their inquiry in November.
In addition to Loudermilk’s letter revealing that OPR interviewed Lazarus on December 18, 2023 and he denied committing perjury when asked by a USCP officer, it was also disclosed that a former high-ranking USCP officer, speaking anonymously due to fear of retaliation, informed Blaze Media about a previous disciplinary incident that raised concerns about Lazarus’ trial testimony and overall credibility.
More from Baker’s analysis:
In 2016, Lazarus, who was assigned to the Dignitary Protection Division, was involved in the cover-up of an incident in which he was discovered to be drinking on duty. Lying in an internal affairs investigation is a “terminable” offense. At the very least, the incident should have been made known to the Oath Keepers’ defense team, which might have used the knowledge to impeach Lazarus’ testimony during cross-examination.
But Lazarus wasn’t fired. And the Oath Keepers’ lawyers were left in the dark.
In his Friday analysis, Baker noted that USCP leadership, along with their general counsel Thomas “Tad” DiBiase, have been resistant to Blaze Media and Loudermilk’s committee’s attempts to obtain the 2016 OPR disciplinary report on Lazarus.
Despite this, Baker also mentioned that a senior aide from Loudermilk’s committee has viewed the OPR report and described its contents as “nuclear.”
Addressing the accusation of Lazarus drinking alcohol while on duty in 2016, Loudermilk’s letter disclosed that although the OPR upheld the allegation and it was supported by the USCP Inspector for the USCP Dignitary Protection Division Commander, it was ultimately overturned by the USCP Office of General Counsel.
Loudermilk’s letter suggested that Agent Lazarus may have provided false or misleading statements during the 2016 investigation.
Furthermore, Baker revealed in his analysis that Blaze Media has learned from Oath Keeper defense attorneys that neither the USCP nor federal prosecutors shared information about Lazarus’ 2016 OPR investigation with them prior to his testimony on October 31, 2022.
Loudermilk ended his letter to USCP Chief Manger with the following statement:
The incomplete OPR investigation regarding Special Agent Lazarus’ testimony regarding the incident in the Capitol on January 6, 2021, coupled with the OGC overruling the recommendation of OPR and a Division Commander regarding Special Agent Lazarus’ violation of USCP policy, and the possibility Special Agent Lazarus made false statements, raises significant questions about USCP’s internal accountability and discipline structure. The lack of a robust investigation into the allegations that Agent Lazarus potentially lied under oath is unacceptable.
To better understand USCP’s internal processes and guidelines for discipline, I ask that you provide the Subcommittee with the complete USCP guidelines for OPR discipline and any additional information that informed the outcomes of these OPR investigations.
Capitol Police on Friday didn’t immediately respond to Blaze News’ request for comment on Baker’s latest analysis.
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