Mikie Sherrill’s January 6 ‘reconnaissance’ claim falls apart as Capitol Police say no evidence of tours for attack prep
WASHINGTON, DC — In a dramatic reversal of a widely circulated claim made in the wake of the Capitol riot, U.S. Capitol Police have concluded there is no evidence supporting Rep. Mikie Sherrill’s allegation that Republican lawmakers led “reconnaissance tours” the day before the January 6 attack—effectively debunking a key narrative pushed by House Democrats in the early days following the riot.
It turns out, she overreacted, possibly intentionally.
On Tuesday, a letter from Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger confirmed that Representative Barry Loudermilk, one of the Republicans accused by Sherrill and the now-defunct January 6 Select Committee, did not lead any suspicious tours on January 5. The internal review found no signs of surveillance activity and stated that officers had been trained to identify such behavior.
“I’m going to see that they’re held accountable, and if necessary, see that they don’t serve in Congress,” she said. Her false claims fueld wild conspiracy theories and even violent and deadly threats against those she accused.
The claim first surfaced when Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a New Jersey Democrat and former Navy pilot, wrote to Capitol security officials shortly after the attack, asserting that she and other lawmakers had witnessed what appeared to be reconnaissance tours. In her letter, Sherrill claimed she observed an “extremely high number of outside groups” in the Capitol complex that day and suggested some were linked to individuals who later stormed the Capitol.
Sherrill’s allegations sparked a firestorm, fueling speculation that Republican lawmakers may have helped plan or facilitate the riot by providing pre-attack access to the Capitol layout. Though the January 6 Committee later echoed these claims and targeted Rep. Loudermilk specifically, no direct evidence ever emerged that any lawmaker conducted a reconnaissance mission or knowingly assisted rioters.
In the Capitol Police’s assessment, Manger wrote unequivocally that Loudermilk “did not enter the U.S. Capitol with [his] group on January 5” and added, “we do not consider any of the activities we observed as suspicious.”
The group Loudermilk was with remained in a House office building and never entered the Capitol itself, according to surveillance footage reviewed by police.
The bipartisan House Administration Committee also noted that Capitol access had been restricted since March of the previous year due to COVID-19 protocols, further limiting the possibility of unauthorized tours.
Sherrill’s false accusations turned out to be completely fabricated.
Despite repeated calls for accountability from Republicans, no retraction or clarification has been issued by Sherrill since the Capitol Police’s findings were made public.
The controversy has become a flashpoint in the broader political battle over the January 6 narrative. Republicans have accused House Democrats of weaponizing the attack for political gain.