US military defends Capitol insurrection response

The US Capitol, still surrounded by perimeter fencing almost six months after the insurrection in which supporters of Donald Trump stormed the building ((J Scott Applewhite/AP)

A prominent US Army leader defended the Pentagon’s response to the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol building, telling a House of Representatives panel the National Guard was delayed as it had to properly prepare for its deployment.

Lieutenant General Walter Piatt also said senior military leaders had determined beforehand that the military had “no role” in determining the outcome of an election.