Murphy, Blumenthal: Prepare for more violence at U.S. Capitol
Connecticut’s U.S. senators said Monday they believe violent threats against the federal government will persist, raising particular concerns about President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration next week and pressing for investigations into the security collapse that led to a siege of the Capitol.
“I think you have to assume that this insurgency against the federal government is going to continue into 2021 and there will be many other moments when the White House or the Capitol complex will be at risk,” U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, DConn., said at the state Capitol in Hartford.
Congressional leaders are now speaking with federal officials to amp up security around the inauguration on Jan. 20. The National Guard said Wednesday it will increase troops in Washington D.C. to at least 10,000 by Saturday to boost security ahead of the inauguration four days later.
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said people should beware “what may happen on Jan. 20 because domestic terrorism is a growing threat in this country.”
An FBI bulletin issued Sunday, obtained by Hearst Connecticut Media, said various groups planned armed demonstrations in Washington D.C. and all 50 state capitals in the days leading up to and including the inauguration. “Multiple reports indicate various threats to harm President-elect Biden ahead of the presidential inauguration,” the memo says. “Additional reports indicate threats against VP-Elect Harris and Speaker Pelosi.”
Murphy, who has spoken with Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy and the outgoing Capitol Police chief about the attack last week, said it was clear that approval was needed from too many people before the National Guard could be deployed to the U.S. Capitol. That delayed the Guard’s arrival by several hours and left the Capitol Police defending without much backup.
The approval process involved the Capitol Police chief, the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms, Washington D.C. mayor and top Department of Defense officials.
Murphy said he hopes to simplify the required chain of approval before the inauguration, so one person will be in charge. He and Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., asked the Pentagon Monday to speed up future deployments of armed forces to the Capitol.
“You have to be much more worried about the upcoming activities and whether they are going to be heavily armed,” Murphy said. “One of our fears is law enforcement will get outgunned.”
Many members of Congress are furious about the breach of the Capitol Wednesday, which forced lawmakers into lockdown and left five people dead after President Donald Trump encouraged thousands of his supporters to march on the Capitol. Democrats plan to impeach Trump for inciting violence against the government and some Republicans support the idea too.
All members of the Connecticut Congressional delegation back a second impeachment for Trump — something which would be a first for any U.S. president.
Members of Congress are also investigating how the U.S. Capitol was left so exposed when clear evidence pointed to the possibility of violence before the attack Wednesday. House Appropriations Chair, Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3, announced last week that her committee, which funds the Capitol Police, will review law enforcement’s response and hold hearings to question officials about it.
“We recognize the bravery of the Capitol Police and law enforcement officers who protected members and essential workers in the Capitol Complex,” DeLauro said. “At the same time, it is obvious that there was a severe systemic failure in securing the building’s perimeter and in the response once the building was breached.”
Murphy, a ranking member on the Senate subcommittee that funds the Capitol Police has also promised an investigation.
Blumenthal, by contrast, advocated for an independent commission to look into the issue, like the 9/11 Commission after the attacks in 2001.
The U.S. Capitol Police has primary responsibility for security of the Capitol complex. On Wednesday, 1,400 Capitol Police officers were on duty to respond to 8,000 Trump supporters descending on the Capitol, the Washington Post reported. They were overrun in 15 minutes.
In a press conference Monday, Murphy challenged an account Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund gave to the Washington Post about how he pleaded for back-up help two days before the breach of the Capitol, but was rebuffed by the sergeants-at-arms for the House and Senate. Murphy said he spoke to the outgoing Sund last week on Wednesday night and Thursday, and Sund did not say he wanted back up from the National Guard either time they spoke.
“I was surprised to see his comments today,” Murphy said.
Members of the National Guard did eventually provide reinforcement at the Capitol, as did local police, Park Police and Federal Bureau of Investigations officers.