BUT series of High-profile security incidents scare participants of Congress and prompting Capitol security officials to take over the main steps on beach up the security of deputies.
Why is it important: Threats against legislators rose sharply in recent years and many of they still reel from the violence of January 6 attack on Capitol.
Driving news: house sergeant on Wednesday announced plans to cover expenses of security updates for member homes, including $10,000 for equipment installation cost and $150 per month for monitoring and maintenance.
- development came just weeks after the man’s arrest for threatens Rep. Pramila Jayapal (Washington D.) outside her home while armed with pistol.
- Most recently Rep. Lee Zeldin (RN.Y.), who is running for The governor of New York was attacked by a man with a sharp object in his hands campaign event.
What they say: Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) who chairs an appropriations subcommittee that oversees the Capitol police, Axios told Axios that “everything on high readiness” in commemoration of these incidents.
- “Threats of real increase have been incredible,” he said. “We must do our best to try and make sure people safe. A lot of of wild cats out there.”
- Ryan said the Capitol Police and Sergeant-at-Arms are doing enough to keep attendees safe “for now” but added”We have a lot more do.”
- A spokesman for the Capitol Police told Axios they “cannot discuss what we can or cannot do to protect participants.”
Another side: Jayapal said she didn’t think security personnel were doing enough. “I think we need a lot of more. And you know, I learned a lot from going through this myself,” she told Axios.
- Jayapal said that the appointment of a sergeant-at-arms is “good step”but it wants to be” pool of money [for] when we really have a serious threat in our residences.”
- After being threatened outside to her home, she said, she received an estimate that recommended $50,000 to $60,000. in security updates.
- In addition, according to her, the security forces should help clean the addresses of participants from the Internet and improve their communication with participants’ rooms.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (DN.Yu.), who got a lot of death threats, wants an overhaul in the safety of the participants.
- “If you are on certain committee, if you have a certain [leadership] title, your safety already taken care of of. But more and more often we have … ordinary members, and not just me, but many others who are under increasing threat,” she told Axios.
- There should to be “evaluation for real threat environment for every single member,” she said.
- Representative Rodney Davis (R-Illinois), Ranking Member of House Management Committee, Axios said: “Zeldin almost got stabbed – there should I was immediately a Capitol police officer who went to New York to protect him.
Background: Capitol security and law enforcement took no chance with Thursday’s congressional baseball game, which was the subject of of violence in in past.
- event was aiming for it year climate demonstrators promising “shut down” game.
- In response, the D.C. police stepped up security measures. for in game, Capitol police urged protesters to stay away, and a House Sergeant-at-Arms sent a memo to the offices. reassuring they had a “comprehensive security plan in place.”
- The result of the demonstration in several arrests, but no violence.