Capitol Police chief says “in the present day’s political local weather” requires extra safety for members of Congress

Within the wake of the assault on Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband final week on the couple’s San Francisco dwelling, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger stated in a press release Tuesday that “in the present day’s political local weather requires extra sources to offer extra layers of bodily safety for members of Congress.”

“With the rising variety of threats towards elected officers from metropolis council members to federal judges, our work to additional our efforts to guard the members of Congress turns into more and more pressing,” Manger stated. “We are going to proceed to work with our congressional companions so as to add extra brokers and safety enhancements to help our protecting operations mission.”

In accordance with San Francisco District Legal professional Brooke Jenkins, within the early morning hours of Oct. 28, the suspect, David Wayne DePape, pressured his method by means of a rear glass door on the Pelosi dwelling and made his method upstairs, the place Paul Pelosi was sleeping. 

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

CBS Information has confirmed there have been cameras exterior the Pelosi dwelling which captured the break-in, however Capitol Police solely realized of it after an officer within the division’s command heart 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 Information confirms. The information concerning the cameras was first reported by The Washington Put up.  

Authorities stated 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 telephone name. The suspect then realized Pelosi had made the telephone name, Jenkins stated. 

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

“What is obvious, primarily based on the proof that we have now to date, is that this home and the speaker herself had been particularly targets of the defendant,” Jenkins stated Monday. 

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

Manger stated Tuesday that USCP has engaged in a evaluation 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 can not disclose the small print about these enhancements as a result of our nation can not afford to make it simpler for any potential dangerous actors,” Manger stated. 

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

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