Capitol Police chief says “today’s political climate” requires extra safety for members of Congress

In the wake of the assault on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband final week on the couple’s San Francisco house, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger mentioned in a press release Tuesday that “today’s political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for members of Congress.”

“With the increasing number of threats against elected officials from city council members to federal judges, our work to further our efforts to protect the members of Congress becomes increasingly urgent,” Manger mentioned. “We will continue to work with our congressional partners to add additional agents and security enhancements to support our protective operations mission.”

According to San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, within the early morning hours of Oct. 28, the suspect, David Wayne DePape, compelled his means by way of a rear glass door on the Pelosi house and made his means upstairs, the place Paul Pelosi was sleeping. 

The couple’s San Francisco house didn’t have safety as a result of the speaker was in Washington, D.C., on the time. 

CBS News has confirmed there have been cameras outdoors the Pelosi house which captured the break-in, however Capitol Police solely discovered of it after an officer within the division’s command middle noticed a police cruiser within the Pelosi driveway and alerted his superiors. No safety alarm in the home went off when DePape broke the glass, CBS News confirms. The news in regards to the cameras was first reported by The Washington Post.  

Authorities mentioned Paul Pelosi tried to get to the house’s elevator, and requested the suspect if he may to go to the lavatory, the place he made a 911 cellphone name. The suspect then realized Pelosi had made the cellphone name, Jenkins mentioned. 

When two officers arrived on scene, they witnessed the suspect strike Pelosi with a hammer, Jenkins disclosed.

“What is clear, based on the evidence that we have thus far, is this house and the speaker herself were specifically targets of the defendant,” Jenkins mentioned Monday. 

DePape pleaded not responsible Tuesday to tried homicide and different state costs. He nonetheless faces federal costs. 

Manger mentioned Tuesday that USCP has engaged in a assessment of the assault on Pelosi, and safety enhancements had been made after the 2017 taking pictures of Rep. Steve Scalise, and the 2011 taking pictures of former Rep. Gabby Gifford.

“We cannot disclose the details about these improvements because our country cannot afford to make it easier for any potential bad actors,” Manger mentioned. 

Furthermore, Manger mentioned USCP has long-term plans to extend safety, not simply within the wake of the Paul Pelosi assault, but additionally the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol.