have uniformed presence at the Capitol."[221] He added: "They were concerned about how it would look, the optics."[222] Chief Sund heard the general use the word twice.[223] "General Piatt said—and I will never forget this—'Yeah, I don't know. I'm concerned about the optics of the National Guard standing a line with the Capitol in the background,'" Chief Sund said.[224] "[M]y officers are getting beaten, and they're worried about the optics of the National Guard."[225]
Although General Piatt denies explicitly using the word "optics"—"I don't recall ever saying that word on that phone call, because at the time it just wasn't important"[226]—he agreed that he said use of the Guard was "not my best military judgment or my best military advice."[227] He said he "made a couple of suggestions that were not well-received,"[228] including "if there was any other facility where we could go and relieve police . . . I think they took that as I was saying no, because they immediately came back and said, you're denying our request."[229]
General McConville—who wasn't present at the time—said he talked to people in the room about the use of the word "optics," and "some people said, 'No, it wasn't said.' And then some people said it was said."[230] Nonetheless, the sentiment behind it should not be a particularly controversial one, according to General McConville. "People like to use optics—I'm going to stay away because that's a political term in my eyes. But what type of signature do you want on the streets in Washington, DC? Do you want a police signature? Do you want a military signature? Do you want a Federal signature?" he said.[231] "[T]hat creates a reaction from the American people, and we need to think our way through that . . ."[232]
On the call, talk of needing a plan—the so-called con-op that had been a lesson learned from the summer—emerged. "[A]fter the optics, . . . then it was, you know, they wanted, like, specific information. There was something they were talking about, like, mission and . . . what exactly they're going to be doing when they get there," Chief Contee said.[233] Before running off, Secretary McCarthy had instructed General McConville to put together a plan: "My charter, my direction from him is to get a plan. We're gonna support; I just wanted to get something to support with."[234] But he acknowledged the impression nonetheless remained that he was "denying or pushing back."[235]
That impression was made explicit: "They said three times to me clearly, 'You're denying my request,'" General Piatt said.[236]
Chief Contee interrupted "Chief Sund mid-sentence" and said, "Wait a minute. Hold up. Let me make sure that I understand this correctly . . . [A]re you asking for support from the National Guard at the U.S. Capitol?"[237]
Chief Sund said, "Yes."[238]
