The U.S. Capitol Police Chief announced his resignation in wake of the deadly Pro-Trump riots at the nation's Capitol.
A spokesperson for the police department confirmed the move to NBC News' Frank Thorp on Thursday, stating Steven Sund will leave his post on Jan. 16.
Sund issued his resignation letter shortly after.
"It has been a pleasure and true honor to serve the United States Capitol Police Board and the Congressional community alongside the women and men of the United States Capitol Police," he wrote.
Sund and his department have faced backlash over their handling of the mob that breached the US Capitol on Wednesday. Video showed the pro-Trump crowd breaking into the building as lawmakers prepared to certify Joe Biden's Electoral College win over the outgoing president. Property was damaged, arrests were made, and multiple people were killed during the riots, including an Air Force veteran and a Capitol police officer.
Sund addressed the violence in a statement Thursday, saying the USCP had not anticipated the events that unfolded.
"The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol was unlike any I have ever experienced in my 30 years in law enforcement here in Washington, D.C." he said. "Maintaining public safety in an open environment – specifically for First Amendment activities – has long been a challenge. The USCP had a robust plan established to address anticipated First Amendment activities. But make no mistake – these mass riots were not First Amendment activities; they were criminal riotous behavior ... The USCP is conducting a thorough review of this incident, security planning and policies and procedures."
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi was among the political leaders who called for Sund's resignation on Thursday, claiming she had not heard from him since the riots took place.
"I think we have to have a full review ..." she said during a press briefing. "Many of our Capital police just acted so bravely and with such concern for the staff, for the members, for the Capitol ... and they deserve our gratitude. But there was a failure of leadership at the top of the Capitol police, and I think Mr. Sund, he hasn't even called us since this happened. So, I had made it aware that I would be saying that we're calling for his resignation."
The union representing the Capitol Police also called for Sund's resignation, stating the insurrection was "a failure of leadership at the very top."
