Just one day before the Committee investigating the attack was scheduled to present new evidence in a surprise hearing, the guy in charge of protecting the Senate during the Capitol riot passed away.
On the day of the attempted coup, Michael Stenger, 71, was the sergeant at arms of the Senate.
He resigned in response to allegations that he did not respond to the building being overwhelmed in a timely manner.
His untimely passing on Monday coincided with the announcement of an unanticipated extra hearing of the committee looking into the unrest.
The ‘presentation of recently obtained evidence and witness testimony’ will take place at the unexpected meeting.
On Tuesday, Cassidy Hutchinson, a supporter of Mark Meadows, Donald Trump’s chief of staff, will testify before the committee.
Hutchinson will make a public statement before the committee as the first member of the White House staff.
Hutchinson earlier claimed that Meadows had been informed in advance that there would be difficulties on January 6 during a private meeting.
The committee’s claim that several of the Republicans afterwards sought presidential pardons was supported by her video deposition.
In a piece of a transcript revealed in court records in April, Hutchinson told the panel, “We received intel reports stating that there could potentially be violence on the 6th.”
Then Mr. Meadows responded, “All right. Let’s discuss it.
Meetings between Meadows and many House Republicans who supported Trump’s attempt to annul the 2020 election took place with Hutchinson in attendance.
She added that she had witnessed Meadows destroying paper.
The committee served a subpoena on Meadows, but she refused to appear.
Hutchinson stated in court, “I know that he was on multiple calls during the protest.
At one time, I walked over to meet with him, but he just waved me away, which is unusual.
According to the Washington Post, one of the reasons the shocking supplementary hearing was kept a secret was because a witness faced security threats.
Stenger spent 35 years in the Secret Service after serving in the United States Marine Corps.
Since April 2018, he had served as the chamber’s top law enforcement official and protocol coordinator.
Stenger informed the Senate Homeland Security Committee in February 2021 that it was necessary to look into the function of “professional agitators.”
There is a chance to draw conclusions from the January 6 events, he said.
Investigations into the funding and travel of individuals who appear to be professional agitators should be taken into account.
Before assuming senior positions, he worked on protective details as an assistant director for the Office of Investigations and later in the Office of Protective Research.
He had advanced to be the third in charge by the time he left the Secret Service, according to Roll Call.
He began working for the Senate in 2011 as an assistant sergeant at arms for continuity and protection services.
Stenger was appointed as Drew Willison’s deputy when Willison, a longtime adviser to former Democratic leader Harry Reid, was appointed sergeant at arms in 2014.
In an interview with Roll Call in 2014, Willison stated, “Mike and I are definitely planning to work as a team.”
He predicted that Stenger would “naturally gravitate” toward security at the time.
Security will be really important, but I want to keep my attention on the customer service end of things, which will be everyone’s daily interactions.
Stenger also worked as Frank Larkin’s deputy while he was sergeant at arms from 2015 until 2018.
Mitch McConnell named Stenger to succeed Larkin when he resigned.
Then, McConnell remarked, “I appreciate Mike stepping up to this important responsibility.”
He is incredibly qualified and will continue to do a great job for the Senate and our country.
After a 33-year military career, Karen Gibson, who now holds the position of sergeant at arms, replaced Stenger on a full-time basis on March 22, 2021.