Retired Lt. Gen. Honore calls 'BS' on Capitol Police, rioters, in latest commentaries

Within a day of describing a security assessment from the U.S. Capitol Police union chief as "BS," retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honore on Tuesday said that rioters breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 after being told "a little BS about what they want to hear."

Honore made his most recent comments on April 6 while he appeared on a video panel to address extremism in the U.S. armed forces and police agencies. Honore, who in January was appointed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to lead a task force to examine security at the Capitol, deviated from the panel's topic, and presented his views on what caused the Jan. 6 breach. 

The former Army three-star general said that the attack was the result of "propaganda" that gave people "a little BS about what they want to hear." 

"I think we've been had by a little propaganda and a superb use of information operation, which is an offensive weapon to shape people's minds," Honore said during the panel organized by the Atlantic Council. "And again, just tell them a little BS about what they want to hear, a sliver of truth and have them act on it."

The comments followed a Monday press appearance wherein Honore seemingly both contradicted and agreed with a union official regarding the state of the Capitol Police.  

Over the Easter weekend, Capitol Police union chief Gus Papathanasiou said that the department has 233 fewer officers than the allotted 2,000-member force. 

"We are struggling to meet existing mission requirements even with the officers working massive amounts of forced overtime," Papathanasiou said in a statement. "In the next 3-5 years we have another 500 officers who will be eligible to retire. Many of these officers could put in their retirement papers tomorrow." 

Honore on Monday dismissed the union chief's comments, while also seeming to support them.

"That's BS," Honore said April 5 on CNN. "The Capitol Police can meet the mission. The former Army officer noted that he understands the "enthusiasm" to hire more officers, but the union chief's claim is an "overstatement."

Honore also said, however, that his task force report addressed the staffing issue.

"We made the recommendation that they need to get the funding to recruit and hire the 233 officers they are short," Honore said. "We made a recommendation to hire another additional 800 officers. Those recommendations are there, it's up to Congress to take action."

While Honore's most recent comments are notable for their contradictions and use of the term "BS," military observers who know the longtime infantry officer privately noted that the comments are far from being "full Honore."

Earlier this year, Honore drew ire from Republicans, particularly from Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, after critiquing police. The outspoken retired general, known for his role during Hurricane Katrina, sounded off in a tweet against Hawley.

"This little piece of s--- with his @Yale law degree should be run out of DC and Disbarred ASAP," Honore reportedly wrote in a now-deleted tweet. 

In another tweet that still appears on his feed, Honore wrote of Colorado Republican and gun rights activist Rep. Lauren Boebert:  "Put Her Stupid A-- on the No Fly List."

Honore now frequently gives seminars and speeches to private clients. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Just the News.