Pure propaganda from the moonie times.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200702020019Will Wash. Times correct its reporting on the Capitol Police and Pelosi?
Summary: The Washington Times propagated claims that the Capitol Police were ordered not to arrest anti-Iraq war protesters who reportedly spray-painted graffiti on the Capitol steps, and that the order came from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but it has yet to report the Capitol Police chief's statement flatly refuting the allegations against the Capitol Police and Pelosi.
In its coverage of an incident from the January 27 anti-Iraq war protest on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., in which a group of protesters reportedly spray-painted graffiti on the steps of the Capitol, The Washington Times has propagated claims that the United States Capitol Police were ordered not to arrest protesters on the Capitol steps, and that the order came from the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). However, Capitol Police chief Phillip D. Morse Sr. has since refuted that claim, noting in an official statement released January 31 that no order was given not to arrest protesters, that the Capitol Police did not see the vandalism take place, that they would have arrested anyone they saw spray-painting, and that all decisions were made "without consultation or influence by any Member of Congress." The Times has yet to report the Capitol Police chief's statement flatly refuting all allegations against the Capitol Police and Pelosi.
The Hill, which first reported the allegation that the Capitol Police were ordered not to arrest protesters on the Capitol steps, noted Morse's statement on February 1.
A January 28 Hill article by Jackie Kucinich reported that "
nti-war protesters were allowed to spray paint on part of the west front steps of the United States Capitol building after police were ordered to break their security line by their leadership." The article cited two anonymous sources who allegedly witnessed the incident, but the article offered no indication as to what relationship the sources had to the protest or the Capitol Police.
snip//
Despite Morse's explicit assertion that he made decisions with no "consultation or influence" by Pelosi's office, the Times has yet to update its report from January 31 that "Capitol Police officials could not verify whether any orders originated from the speaker's office." Capitol Police officials have verified that no orders came from the speaker's office, and the Times has yet to note that.
A February 1 Hill article noted Morse's statement, reporting that "U.S. Capitol Police Chief Phillip Morse yesterday said police officers never were given orders to refrain from arresting anti-war protesters who vandalized a Capitol terrace over the weekend." The article further noted that Morse's statement "contradicts witnesses' accounts, confirmed yesterday, that commanders were at the scene and police were told not to make any arrests." The Hill once again gave no indication as to the identity of its "sources," reporting simply: "Sources yesterday reconfirmed police were told to bring the line in front of the Capitol building. They also said protesters were allowed to break the police line and approach the Capitol building."