After a meeting with U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Phillip Morse and Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer, Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) felt “satisfied” with their explanation of the way security handled vandalism on the Capitol’s west-front terrace this weekend.

“I am satisfied with their explanation,” Allard said in a press conference after his meeting with Morse and Gainer. “[Morse] cleared the air a bit. I respect him for the job he did.”

Allard’s remarks were in stark contrast to his statement Monday, when he said he was “disgusted” with USCP’s handling of the incident.

Contrary to what multiple police sources and the chairman of the police union have told The Hill, Allard said that Morse denied that the order was given not to arrest people.

Allard said, “[Police officers] were not ordered to fall back.” In hindsight, he said, the police wouldn’t have had tourists milling around the area.

Allard, who is ranking member of the Senate Appropriations legislative branch subcommittee, said that he was told the police officers did not see the acts of vandalism taking place, but discovered it after a crowd of people dispersed.

However, the USCP Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) has a different version of the story.

“The officers of the U.S. Capitol Police are upset that some of this weekend’s demonstrators were able to deface part of the Capitol Complex,” Andy Maybo, chairman of the Capitol Police FOP, said in a statement Monday. “The officers, who did their job both professionally and courageously, were ordered to withdraw by their officials and let the demonstrators have the area where the graffiti was later discovered.”

He added, “But, we must follow the orders of our officials even when we may disagree with such orders. We are just thankful that no one was injured.”

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) yesterday to investigate the event surrounding Saturday’s vandalism on the Capitol’s west-front terrace.

“I call on Speaker Pelosi to launch an investigation to ensure the U.S. Capitol will be protected and to send a strong message that violent protests will not be tolerated,” Bartlett said in a release yesterday.

Six protesters were arrested yesterday in the Russell Building around 11 a.m. and charged with disorderly conduct, according to USCP spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Schneider. At least one other protester was arrested yesterday for disrupting a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, another source said.