A watchdog informed the panel about messages sent on the day in question.

According to a letter sent to the January 6 investigation committee by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General, agents of the US Secret Service erased text messages that were sent before and on the day in question not long after those messages were requested as evidence.

“First, the Department notified us that many US Secret Service text messages from January 5 and 6, 2021, were erased as part of a device-replacement program. The USSS erased those text messages after OIG requested records of electronic communications from the USSS, as part of our evaluation of events at the Capitol on January 6,” reads the letter from DHS IG Joseph Cuffari, which was obtained by CNN.

“Second, DHS personnel have repeatedly told OIG inspectors that they were not permitted to provide records directly to OIG and that such records had to first undergo review by DHS attorneys,” Cuffari added. “This review led to weeks-long delays in OIG obtaining records and created confusion over whether all records had been produced.”

In response to the letter, a representative of the Secret Service said that “the insinuation that the Secret Service maliciously deleted text messages following a request is false. In fact, the Secret Service has been fully cooperating with the OIG in every respect – whether it be interviews, documents, emails, or texts.”

“DHS OIG requested electronic communications for the first time on Feb. 26, 2021, after the migration was well under way. The Secret Service notified DHS OIG of the loss of certain phones’ data, but confirmed to OIG that none of the texts it was seeking had been lost in the migration.”

The letter sent to the committee did not state concretely whether or not the watchdog believed the messages were erased intentionally.