SEPTA reassigns transit cop who attended Trump rally that led to Capitol insurrection

The reassigned SEPTA police officer was one of seven who attended the rally that preceded a deadly insurrection of the U.S. Capitol.

Trump supporters participate in a rally ahead of a violent insurrection at the Capitol building

Trump supporters participate in a rally ahead of a violent insurrection at the Capitol building Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

One of seven SEPTA police officers who attended the pro-Trump rally that preceded the deadly U.S. Capitol insurrection will be reassigned for violating the transit agency’s social media policies.

The officer will move to an administrative position, SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said on Tuesday, offering few other details.

The seven officers are part of the public transportation agency’s 260-man internal police force. SEPTA Police Chief Thomas Nestel disclosed last week that an investigation had been launched after a tipster reported an officer at the rally.

Nestel later said there was no indication that officers were involved in the breach of the Capitol or related acts of violence. Agency spokesperson Andrew Busch said Tuesday that an Internal Affairs unit investigation was still ongoing and would likely conclude next week.

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Busch reiterated Nestel’s position that there was no evidence the officers engaged in more violent activity.

”Everything that our internal affairs division has gathered so far indicates that there was not any illegal activity by the officers,” he said.

The riot that followed a speech by President Donald Trump stoking unfounded allegations of voter fraud ended with five people dead, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick.

At least one detective with the Philadelphia Police Department was also present at the rally and was later reassigned from a recruitment unit.

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