The former chief law enforcement officer of the US House of Representatives has denied allegations he didn't want to call the National Guard before the January 6 Capitol Hill riot out of concern that it would look bad.
Paul Irving resigned as House sergeant-at-arms after the deadly incident.
He testified on Tuesday to Congress that he met with then-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund on January 4 and that he believed they agreed not to ask for the Guard.
Sund alleged that Irving denied his request for the Guard, citing "optics".
Irving said, "I was not concerned about appearance whatsoever".
The hearing has renewed a remarkable breach between Sund and Irving about why there wasn't more security at the Capitol.
Irving was one of Sund's superiors.
Sund said he requested the Guard help again at 1.09pm on January 6 as rioters were massing outside the building.
Irving denies receiving a call at that time.
Australian Associated Press
