Secret Service deleted texts ahead of January 6th riot

(Washington, DC) -- The Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security says the Secret Service deleted texts messages both the day before and day of the January 6th Capitol riot.

DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari said in a letter given to the House January 6th committee that text messages were deleted as part of a "device-replacement program."

He said that the Secret Service erased the texts after they were requested by oversight officials looking into how the agency responded to the riot.

Former President Trump continues to deny any involvement in the riots, and has said his only reasoning for holding a rally in the Capitol that day was to express freedom and call out election fraud.