Top Democrat Grills Capitol Police About Lawmaker Protection After Pelosi Attack - The New York Times

Politics|Top Democrat Grills Capitol Police About Lawmaker Protection After Pelosi Attack

WASHINGTON — One of the astir elder Democrats successful the House of Representatives connected Wednesday demanded to cognize wherefore the Capitol Police did not bash much to forestall the onslaught connected Paul Pelosi, the hubby of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, astatine their San Francisco location past week, and questioned what the bureau was doing to amended information for members of Congress and their families.

In a lengthy missive that included a litany of concerns astir however the Capitol Police negociate threats to lawmakers, Representative Zoe Lofgren, Democrat of California and the chairwoman of the Administration Committee, questioned respective of the department’s policies and practices, including an evident determination to crook down an invitation from the F.B.I. for immoderate of its officers to articulation coercion task forces that analyse threats against members of Congress.

“The section has antecedently reported to the committee that the talker receives the astir threats of immoderate subordinate of Congress,” Ms. Lofgren wrote to Chief J. Thomas Manger of the Capitol Police, asking wherefore his section had not extended “coverage to the spouses and/or different household members of the legislature leaders successful the statesmanlike enactment of succession.”

Ms. Lofgren besides questioned wherefore the Capitol Police had not entered into a ceremonial statement with the San Francisco constabulary for a car to beryllium posted 24 hours a time extracurricular Ms. Pelosi’s house, arsenic had been the signifier successful the months aft the Jan. 6, 2021, onslaught connected the Capitol.

And she questioned wherefore the bureau did not notation much cases to U.S. attorneys for prosecution. Members of Congress received astatine slightest 9,625 threats successful 2021, but lone 217 cases were referred for prosecution. A spokesperson for the Capitol Police told The Times past month that astir of those threatening lawmakers were mentally sick and believed to airs nary genuine threat, truthful the extremity was to get them attraction alternatively than nonstop them to jail.

The five-page missive from Ms. Lofgren, whose sheet oversees Capitol security, came a time aft reports that a reappraisal had flagged respective lapses successful constabulary extortion of the Pelosi household. Capitol Police surveillance cameras captured the break-in, but costly minutes went by earlier immoderate serviceman reviewed the footage.

Capitol Police responded to those reports successful a connection Wednesday that said the agency’s bid halfway has entree to astir 1,800 cameras, but not each are perpetually monitored.

When Ms. Pelosi is successful San Francisco, the bureau “actively” monitors her location determination “around the clock” but does not bash truthful erstwhile she is successful Washington with her information detail, constabulary said. Still, the bureau said, its bid halfway noticed the constabulary enactment connected the surface and assisted investigators.

“We volition fast-track the enactment we person already been doing to heighten the extortion of members extracurricular of Washington, D.C., portion besides providing caller protective options that volition code concerns pursuing Friday’s targeted attack,” the connection from the bureau said, adding: “In the meantime, a important alteration that volition person an contiguous interaction volition beryllium for radical crossed our state to little the somesthesia connected governmental rhetoric earlier it’s excessively late.”

Mr. Pelosi, 82, was severely injured successful the assault, suffering a fractured skull, and remains successful intensive care. A 42-year-old man, David DePape, has been charged with attempting to kidnap Ms. Pelosi and assaulting a comparative of a national official. Mr. DePape, who had embraced far-right conspiracy theories, told investigators that helium wished to interruption Ms. Pelosi’s kneecaps and spot her “wheeled into Congress” arsenic a acquisition to different members.

Law enforcement leaders connected Capitol Hill said Tuesday they planned to beef up protections for members of Congress, aft the onslaught highlighted an out-of-control menace situation that endangers not lone lawmakers, but their families arsenic well.

“We judge today’s governmental clime calls for much resources to supply further layers of carnal information for members of Congress,” Chief Manger said successful a connection connected Tuesday, adding that helium could not disclose the information upgrades helium was planning. “This program would see an accent connected adding redundancies to the measures that are already successful spot for legislature leadership.”