Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA) is calling for an investigation into reports from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) alleging that Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) failed to respond quickly to federal agents under attack by rioters.
Issa, who is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, called for a “full and complete Congressional investigation” into why Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers had to wait nearly two hours for assistance from LAPD, after violence erupted on Friday in response to ICE raids in Los Angeles.
A press release from DHS on Saturday, stated, “Last night, over 1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer funded property,” adding, “It took the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) 2 hours to respond.”
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell pushed back against the accusations in a Sunday press conference, flatly stating, “Well, it didn’t happen.”
McDonnell says the actual response time was just 40 minutes due to heavy traffic.
Assistant DHS Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News Digital on Monday, “The fact remains that it took the Los Angeles Police Department two hours to respond.”
McLaughlin added, “During that time, over 1,000 rioters surrounded a federal law enforcement building and assaulted ICE law enforcement officers, slashed tires, defaced buildings, and taxpayer funded property. DHS is grateful that now the LAPD is stepping up to help restore law and order.”
Issa explained the reasons for his call for an investigation, saying, “We need to know if the political leadership of the City of Los Angeles, the State of California, or anyone else instructed the LAPD to stand down and not respond to the emergency requests of our ICE agents who were under attack by rioters determined to block them, burn them, or even kill them as they bravely carried out their sworn duties.”
As of Monday, LAPD announced that at least 50 arrests had been made with charges including attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon on an officer.