This rhetoric is causing problems for the force’s efforts to regain public confidence.
On Tuesday, Rep. Troy Nehls, a Texas Representative, accused the Capitol Police having “illegally” investigated his Texas office in November. Both Nehls as well as the police agree that the incident in question did not violate any laws.
In a Fox News interview, Nehls claimed that Nancy Pelosi, the House Speaker, was “using the U.S. Capitol Police” to investigate him, intimidate and destroy him.
The committee has received more attention than the U.S. Capitol Police, which is looking back at the insurrection. However, the U.S. Capitol Police is going through a quieter reform process to correct its operational and intelligence failures. The department is increasing its data collection and updating its processes to share and act on information about threats.
Some Republicans attacked both the Capitol Police’s efforts to look back at the insurrection as well as the Capitol Police’s plans to prevent another attack. On Wednesday, more than twenty-six Republicans demanded in a written letter to U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger the preservation of any records “related any investigations or investigative activities into members of Congress or congressional staff.”
Manger, however, spoke to The Associated Press Tuesday and stated that there are no such investigations into Nehls or any other person. He also said that his officers were being used for partisan purposes.
He said, “Frankly, over 21 years I’ve been a chief of police and I have never let politics influence my decisions.” “I feel like the U.S. Capitol Police men and women are being drawn into partisan disputes, and that’s unfair for them and it’s unfair for this department.”
Manger vehemently denied that his officers had spyed on Nehls (a former sheriff in Fort Bend County, suburban Houston). Manger stated that promoting this unfounded theory could increase the risk for his officers.
Manger stated that “people portray these officers in an untrue, not fair, it undermines confidence that the public have in my officers as well.” “And that is an insult to the men, women and departments.”
On Nov. 20, a Capitol officer was patrolling the Longworth House Office Building’s halls. He noticed that Nehls office door was open. He entered the office to inspect for intruders. Although he found no intrusion, the officer noticed a whiteboard with a map of Rayburn’s neighboring Rayburn building marked with an “X”. Notes about body armor were also found on the whiteboard.
Officer took a photograph of the whiteboard, and then filed a report. It noted “suspicious writings that mention body armor.” The officers returned to Nehls’ offices two days later and talked to their staff about the whiteboard. The case was closed.
Manger stated that there was no investigation into any staff member or member of Congress. “I called the congressman on the next day and told him, ‘Here is what happened. Your staff and you were not under investigation at any time. “We were simply checking to make sure nobody got into your office and caused any damage.”
Nehls said Tuesday to the AP that a staffer had drawn a map to show an intern in Rayburn where the ice machine was located. The machine in Longworth wasn’t working. His office was also working on legislation to obtain body armor for law enforcement.
Nehls acknowledged that the officer was legally allowed to enter his office in order to ensure no one was there who shouldn’t be. He stated, “I have clearly told Chief Manger: I’ve never challenged the officers’ legal authority”
Nehls argued that the officer shouldn’t have seen his whiteboard, and challenged Manger for the photo.
Nehls posted on Twitter that “they had no authority to photograph me office, let alone inspect myself or my staff.”
The Capitol Police, like many large-city police departments in big cities, balances its law enforcement activities with the demands of elected officials. Some officers feel that both Democrats and Republicans have resisted requests for more equipment, training, and security measures. Steven Sund, who was elected Capitol Police chief following the insurrection has claimed that Paul Irving, a former House Sergeant at-Arms, was worried about the “optics”, of calling the National Guard before Jan. 6. Irving claimed that Sund’s account was “categorically falsified.”
The Capitol Police acknowledged not acting on clear warnings far-right groups, extremists loyal Trump supporters would rally at Capitol while lawmakers inside certified his defeat to President Joe Biden. The officers could not stop the thousands of people who stormed the building and broke through police lines.
On Jan. 6, more than 100 officers of the police were hurt. One officer was attacked and shocked repeatedly with a stun gun, until he suffered a heart attack. Another officer was crushed between two doors by rioters and hit in the head with his weapon. Biden’s victory was delayed by the riot for many hours.
A Capitol Police officer was murdered in April when a man drove his car into him. Since then officers have had to deal with numerous high-profile threats. One man pulled up outside the Capitol claiming he had a bomb. This led to evacuations and a long standoff.
The threat to the building and lawmakers has also increased. Capitol Police received around 9,600 threats against Congressmen last year. There were less than 4,000 threats in 2017.
Some Republicans have criticised the use of open-source information on the internet by the department to screen for potential threats at events held by members of Congress. Some even accused the police force “spying on” them.
According to the department, officers use public information and social media profiles to determine whether an event or meeting is potentially dangerous or threatening. Major law enforcement agencies routinely use open-source information to research.
The Capitol Police claims it doesn’t conduct background checks on individuals or conduct investigations into legislators. This is except for major events such as the State of the Union speech, or when a congressional office requests it.
“We are not spying on people. We are not spying on staff members. Manger stated that we are not spying on staff. “We are not conducting background checks on the people they meet with. None of this is happening.”
