Pentagon evaluates Nat'l Guard staying at Capitol

The Pentagon says it's reviewing a request to have National Guard troops remain at the U.S. Capitol.

"We have to look at the capabilities there on the Capitol complex and ask ourselves if there are capabilities we can add that the Capitol Police don't have right now or have insufficient to the need," said Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby.

"It's a combination of looking at the threat and looking at the capabilities needed. And that's what we'll be doing in the coming hours and days as we work through this."

This comes after the acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police appealed to congressional leaders to back her request to keep National Guard troops protecting the building and lawmakers for another two months.

Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman told congressional leaders in a letter obtained by The Associated Press she needed their assistance with the three-member Capitol Police Board, which oversees her department and reports to those House and Senate leaders.

Her letter underscores the confusion over how best to secure the Capitol after a dismal lack of protection on January 6.

Authorities were on high alert Thursday after warnings of a new plot to attack the Capitol, but all was quiet.