Tear gas canisters were found near St. John's Church despite repeated denials by the White House and the U.S. Park Police that 'te...
Tear gas canisters were found near St. John's Church despite repeated denials by the White House and the U.S. Park Police that 'tear gas' was used to break up a peaceful protest Monday, minutes before President Trump came walking outside.
Washington, D.C.'s local CBS affiliate WUSA9 reported Thursday that canisters were found near the White House on 17th and H Street after the Monday incident for two products - Skat Shell OC and Speed-Heat CS - both of which have been described as 'tear gas.'
The TV station's reporting pushed the U.S. Park Police to revise its original statement to also deny that Skat Shell OC was used during that particular clash. The original statement said 'smoke canisters and pepper balls' were deployed.
Since then, WUSA9 reported finding empty canisters of Speed-Heat CS at the scene. A U.S. Park Police spokesperson has yet to respond to DailyMail.com's inquiry about why these canisters were on-site.
Tear gas canisters were found near St. John's Church despite repeated denials by the White House and the U.S. Park Police that 'tear gas' was used to break up a peaceful protest Monday, moments before President Trump's controversial photo-op
This is what our crews picked up on 17th near H minutes after federal law enforcement cleared streets Monday night: Natural OC and artificial CS tear gas canisters. Released green choking gas that attacked our lungs and eyes. Item on right is flash bang. More at @wusa9.com
845 people are talking about this
WUSA9 reporter Nathan Baca tweeted Thursday that he recalled two different kinds of canisters being left on the ground after protesters were forcably moved by the police Monday evening
Upon inspection, the reporter discovered that one of the two canisters was marked 'CS' for chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile, the defining component of what makes something 'tear gas'
Both WUSA9 and DailyMail.com have reached out to U.S. Park Police for an explanation of how the canisters got to the site. The Park Police previously denied using 'tear gas,' and in an updated statement said they didn't use Skat Shell OC, despite cans of that being found on-site
The White House and the Trump campaign have tried to say the media was lying about what happened in front of the White House Monday night - as protesters were pushed out of the way by police in a smoky haze, with the president walking across Lafayette Park minutes later for a photo-op with a Bible in front of the church.
The church was chosen because it suffered fire damage the night before when protests had gotten out of control.
Trump's move was widely criticized for the split-screen moment it created, with him speaking in the Rose Garden and then marching outside, while protesters clashed with police.
Protesters and journalists at the scene reported feeling the effects of 'tear gas.'
Authorities' denials have hinged on the definition that products using man-made components, and not peppers, are the only ones that fall under the term 'tear gas.'
By that definition, 'pepper balls,' which were used Monday night, would not be 'tear gas.' And neither would the product found in the canisters marked Skat Shell OC, because OC stands for Oleoresins Capiscum, which is derived from hot peppers.
That being said, in the original patent for the Skat Shell, it's described as a 'tear gas dispersing shells.'
The discovery of canisters of Speed-Heat CS near the White House opens up the door to more questions because CS - chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile - is the defining component of what makes something 'tear gas.'
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention fact sheet lists CS as one of the two most common compounds found in 'riot control agents,' which the agency notes are 'sometimes referred to as "tear gas."'
Overall, the CDC considers 'tear gas' to include a broad range of chemical agents, which can also include ones derived from natural components.
Neither the U.S. Park Police nor the manufacturer of Speed-Heat CS has returned requests for comment.
Earlier Thursday, Politifact rated White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany's claim that 'no tear gaas and no rubber bullets were used' as 'mostly false.'
No comments