‘The Worst I’ve Seen’: Capitol Police Face Scrutiny For Lack Of Transparency
By Tom Dreisbach
May 7, 2021
The agency’s annual budget is around half a billion dollars, which is larger than the budget for the entire Detroit Police Department.
But until the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, few Americans were likely aware of the police force dedicated to protecting Congress.
Not anymore.
Capitol Police are now facing widespread criticism for the failure to prevent a pro-Trump mob from storming the building and putting members of Congress, the vice president, congressional staff and their own officers at serious risk. And advocates for government accountability say the Capitol Police’s penchant for secrecy only exacerbated these failures.
A medical examiner announced U.S. Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick died of a stroke the day after the riot at the Capitol building.
Threats against members of Congress have increased dramatically in 2021, reflecting the heightened sense of security facing federal lawmakers in the wake of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
The United States Capitol Police (USCP) reported Friday that there s been a 107% increase in threats to members of Congress compared to 2020 and predicted no let-up in sight. Provided the unique threat environment we currently live in, the (UCSP) Department is confident the number of cases will continue to increase, the Capitol Police department said in a statement Friday.
The report comes months after a mob of supporters of former President
Donald Trump overwhelmed the police department and stormed the Capitol in an effort to prevent Congress from confirming President
Joe Biden s victory.
The Justice Department has estimated that about 800 individuals may have been involved in the Jan. 6 attack. More than 400 alleged rioters are now facing criminal charges, and arrests are continuing. Steven Sund, who led the police department at the time of the riot, resigned on Jan. 7.
Friday s release is consistent with comments from lawmakers, who have said that their security is more at risk as a result of the political atmosphere.