Threats against members of Congress have more than doubled this year, Capitol Police says

Several lawmakers who were supportive of impeaching Trump have also boosted their own spending on security since the Jan. 6 attack, financial disclosures show.

The police department has previously said that threats were on the rise.

In March, acting USCP chief Yogananda Pittman told Congress that threats against lawmakers were up more than 90% in the first two months of the year. Between 2017 and 2020, she said, there was a 118.66% increase in threats and “directions of interest. “

The Jan. 6 attack prompted the Capitol police to ask Congress for more funding. The police department has asked for a $107 million increase in its 2022 budget compared to its fiscal year 2021 budget.

That ask reflects revisions to the budget request made after the riot. The original request, prior to Jan. 6, called for a $36 million increase in funding over 2021 levels.

In its press release, the police department continued its push for more funding. It said that it agreed with recommendations issued in an April report from the agency’s inspector general to increase its staff dedicated to threat assessment and to establish a standalone counter surveillance entity. Both proposals, the police department said, would “require resources and authorization.”

“In its report, the [inspector general] suggests the Department’s Threat Assessment Section be similar to the United States Secret Service (USSS). In 2020, the USSS, which has more than 100 agents and analysts, had approximately 8,000 cases. During the same time period, the USCP, which has just over 30 agents and analysts, had approximately 9,000 cases,” the department said.

The police department added, “The USCP agrees a stand-alone counter-surveillance unit would be valuable. However, in order to fully implement this recommendation, the Department would require additional resources for new employees, training, and vehicles as well as approval from Congressional stakeholders.”

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Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/07/threats-against-members-of-congress-have-more-than-doubled-this-year.html