The number of threats against members of Congress is reported to have increased dramatically this year, which began with a riot at the Capitol, compared to 2020.
The Capitol Police, the law enforcement agency charged with protecting Congress, revealed a 107% jump in threats in a Friday press release issued in response to an inspector general report on countersurveillance and threat assessments.
“Provided the unique threat environment we currently live in, the Department is confident the number of cases will continue to increase,” the Capitol Police added.
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The Office of Inspector General report, which has not been released to the public, suggests that the Capitol Police’s Threat Assessment Section should work similarly to the Secret Service, the press release said.
The Capitol Police said it agrees that such a measure would be “valuable,” but it added that it would require additional resources for employees, training, and vehicles, as well as approval from congressional stakeholders.
Michael Bolton, the inspector general for the Capitol Police, testified in front of the House Administration Committee on April 15 to discuss the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He specifically called for a “culture change” that shifts the officers’ mindsets away from viewing themselves as a traditional police force.
“In regards to culture change, we see that the department needs to move away from the thought process as a traditional police department and move to the posture as a protective agency,” Bolton said in his opening statement. “A police department is a reactive force. A crime is committed; police respond and make an arrest. Whereas a protective agency is postured to being proactive to prevent events such as Jan. 6.”
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Rioters stormed the Capitol complex on Jan. 6, disrupting lawmakers as they certified President Joe Biden’s electoral victory. So far, more than 400 people have been arrested and charged by federal prosecutors in connection to the siege of Congress.
