Three GOP lawmakers request briefing about a probe into Capitol visitor access on Jan. 5

A trio of GOP congressmen is requesting a briefing about any investigation being conducted into tours of the U.S. Capitol that occurred on Jan. 5, the day before rioters infamously breached the building. 

In a January letter to the acting U.S. Capitol Police chief and the acting Senate and House sergeants at arms, nearly three dozen Democratic lawmakers had requested a probe "into the suspicious behavior and access given to visitors to the Capitol Complex on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 – the day before the attacks on the Capitol."

"Members of the group that attacked the Capitol seemed to have an unusually detailed knowledge of the layout of the Capitol Complex. The presence of these groups within the Capitol Complex was indeed suspicious. Given the events of January 6, the ties between these groups inside the Capitol Complex and the attacks on the Capitol need to be investigated," that January letter stated.

In a March 31 letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray, Acting U.S. Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Molly Gaston, Republican Reps. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Barry Loudermilk of Georgia and Bryan Steil of Wisconsin requested a briefing on any investigation being conducted into the matter raised in the Democrats' January letter.

"It is our understanding that the accusations included in the letter have prompted an investigation into the validity of its claims. In our capacity as members of the Committee on House Administration, we are deeply concerned about the nature of the allegations, especially considering the lack of evidence that was given in support of the letter's claims.

"In the interest of ensuring transparency and due process, we would like to request a confidential briefing in an appropriate setting to hear from the FBI, U.S. Attorney's office and the Capitol Police about the status of any ongoing investigation in connection with this matter. It is extremely important that there be repercussions for anyone found responsible in connection with these serious allegations. We hope to gain more insight into what has unfolded with any investigation thus far and continue to monitor its progress with a keen focus on a fair and unbiased process," the Republican lawmakers wrote.