House Democrats, dozens of whom were locked in the room when the crowd descended, held a security call Monday night with the acting chief of the Capitol police and the acting Sergeant-at-Arms to discuss ways to further improve the security measures. According to the listeners, the call, which sets out more possible threats, raised alarm in the caucus.
Green (D-Texas) said one of the passengers was believed to be a Trump supporter on his Southwest flight from DC to Nashville, immediately recognized him and identified him to the cockpit and identified him as Mr. Accusation. “(Green has been a longtime supporter of Trump’s accusations and removal.)
He said he could hear the rest of the flight from some of the other Trump travelers – at one point they called him a ‘traitor’ – and was concerned that they were planning a confrontation for his arrival in Nashville. . At the gate, a Southwest employee helped ward off the confrontation until a police officer showed up to help him board his connecting flight.
Upon his arrival in Houston, Green said other travelers appeared to be willing to confront him and were becoming “noisy” before police – who were called to the gate by his staff – helped guide him to safety.
“It was some very angry people,” Green said. ‘I’m a boy from the divorced South. I can remember the expressions of hatred when people said ugly things and mentioned my ugly words that I do not repeat. I remember the look. And I’ve seen it on some of these people. I also saw it here at the Capitol when these people pulled up. If you have ever been attacked by someone who has hatred in their heart and wants to hurt, you will never forget that look. ”
“I tried to be as calm as possible because I didn’t want it to escalate to something more,” Green said.
Green said he had proposed measures that would provide additional fines for people who cause security at airports and on flights, and he insists lawmakers will have additional funds to support their personal safety.
One GOP lawmaker who slammed Trump on the floor last week, Representative Peter Meijer of Michigan, even suggested that fears for their personal safety affected some of his colleagues to support Trump’s election results.
‘They knew in their hearts that they had to vote to certify, but some have legitimate concerns about the safety of their families. “They thought the vote would endanger their families,” Meijer said recently, noting the death threats some Republicans received after standing behind the results of the election college.
There is particular fear among Republicans in Trump-heavy districts who voted against the GOP’s muted effort to reverse the election results. Many people came home last week to track down voters – preachers, school overseers, churchgoers and women – rather than condemn them, according to several GOP lawmakers.
“Both parties have extremists,” the GOP legislature said. ‘There’s a difference between us crazy people and their crazy people. Our crazy people have excessively many weapons. They have gun safes. They have grenades. They believe in the Second Amendment. They come here and Trump made them think it was the Alamo. ”
Several lawmakers have said there is greater fear that the House will return on Tuesday for one of the most sincere votes in their career – accusing Trump for the second time.
To address the safety concerns of members about returning to the Capitol, Kevin McCarthy, leader of the House of Minorities, gave Republicans his blessing on using the Democrats’ proxy voting system that allows members to cast votes without to be physically present. The GOP disputes the power of attorney system in court, so McCarthy encouraged any Republicans to use the voting mechanism to remove themselves from the lawsuit if they are a co-sponsor.
Improved legislators’ concerns: the leadership of the Capitol’s security offices is in turmoil and is facing a complete overhaul, while federal and city agencies continue to dispute who is to blame for Wednesday’s failure to protect the Capitol.
‘We need to start re-establishing trust with the US Capitol Police because of what happened. “So many members of Congress and society are writing big here that they are very much betrayed – let down – by what happened,” said Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), who oversees funding for Capitol operations, including the police force, told reporters Monday.
‘I also received the insurance personally the previous day [House Administration Committee Chair Zoe] Lofgren – about adequate preparation, no problems; we have enough backing and all the others, ”Ryan said.
It can be difficult to regain trust. In the wake of the attacks, two police officers were suspended in the Capitol, including one who took a selfie with a riot and another who wore a “Make America Great Again” hat while carrying members of the mob. ” led, ”Ryan said.
The security issues also raise big questions for a Capitol building that welcomes millions of visitors annually, but will be blocked by a fortified fence for the foreseeable future. Tours were already closed due to coronavirus threats. But it is unclear how the general public will be able to walk through the same corridors as members.
“I’ve never been in danger. Everyone has my cell phone, and in Northern Virginia many, many people know where I live. It never really added to me that it would be a danger,” Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) Said in an interview.
“If we look down the road for four weeks, six months, two years, what do we do to protect members of Congress, staff and the police from this uprising?”
Caitlin Emma and Heather Caygle contributed.