Editor’s Note: Park Police released a statement well after publication claiming tear gas was not used to clear streets in Washington D.C.
United States Park Police are reportedly claiming they did not launch tear gas at peaceful protesters to clear the way for President Donald Trump’s news conference Monday night, but have so far failed to respond to the Daily Caller’s requests for comment.
WTOP reporter Neal Augenstein tweeted Tuesday that the U.S. Park Police “is explaining its decision-making in clearing Lafayette Square.”
First on WTOP: U.S. Park Police is explaining its decision-making in clearing Lafayette Square, at least 20 minutes before DC’s 7p curfew, on night 4 of protests….
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) June 2, 2020
“A source says tear gas was never used — instead smoke cannisters (sic) were deployed,” Augenstein wrote. “Park Police didn’t know President Trump would be walking across the park several minutes later.
A source says tear gas was never used — instead smoke cannisters were deployed, which don’t have an uncomfortable irritant in them. And, the source says Park Police didn’t know President Trump would be walking across the park several minutes later. Park Police say…
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) June 2, 2020
The reporter said his source told him that “officers were being pelted with water bottles.”
…the reason the crowd was disbursed with smoke cannisters is that at that moment, officers were being pelted with water bottles. Another factor was that protesters had climbed on top of the structure at the north end of Lafayette Square that had been burned the day before.
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) June 2, 2020
In theory it’s possible another agency used tear gas, in addition to Park Police using smoke cannisters, but my source was on the scene, got a dose of smoke, but didn’t feel the irritants of tear gas. Clearly, the phrase “tear gas” has been used widely in the reporting…
— Neal Augenstein (@AugensteinWTOP) June 2, 2020
Numerous media outlets reported Monday that the Park Police used tear gas against peaceful protesters to clear Lafeyette Park for reporters and President Donald Trump. (RELATED: Owner Of Gutted Minneapolis Shopping Center Tells Governor And Mayor: ‘People Will Uprise Over This’)
A police officer stands watch as a looted pawn shop burns behind them on May 28, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)
In a letter released on Twitter, Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi condemned “President Trump’s continued fanning of the flames of discord, bigotry, and violence,” calling it “cowardly, weak, and dangerous.”
At this challenging time, our nation needs real leadership.
President Trump’s continued fanning of the flames of discord, bigotry, and violence is cowardly, weak, and dangerous.
My statement with @SpeakerPelosi: pic.twitter.com/0wQyiSBkO1
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 2, 2020
“Tear-gassing peaceful protesters without provocation just so the President could pose for photos outside a church dishonors every value that faith teaches us,” they wrote.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tweeted her disgust at the alleged action, calling it “a horrifying use of presidential power against our own citizens.”
Tonight the President of the United States used the American military to shoot peaceful protestors with rubber bullets & tear gas them.
For a photo op.
This is a horrifying use of presidential power against our own citizens, & has no place anywhere, let alone in America. Vote.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 2, 2020
White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere did not dispute claims that tear gas was used against peaceful protesters in a statement provided to NPR.
“The perimeter was expanded to help enforce the 7 p.m. curfew in the same area where rioters attempted to burn down one of our nation’s most historic churches the night before. Protesters were given three warnings by the U.S. Park Police,” Deere said.
Fox News reported that tear gas and rubber bullets were deployed against “peaceful protesters.”
The Daily Caller has repeatedly reached out to the U.S. Park Police for comment and never received a response. The Park Police did eventually release a statement saying they did not use pepper spray.