Police in CT on added guard for members of Congress
State Police have contacted local law enforcement in the hometowns of the state’s seven members of Congress, asking them to be vigilant in case the Trumpfueled violence that was directed at the nation’s capital this week migrates to Connecticut.
The additional security comes as members of Congress are calling for the immediate removal of President Trump from office before his term is up on Jan. 20. Some protesters who broke through barriers, pushed aside security officers and trashed offices in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday said they were inspired by the words of Trump.
Connecticut authorities said there was “no specific threat” against public officials here.
As for the state Capitol in Hartford, officials said they constantly review and update security measures and were not adding more in direct response to the events in Washington D.C.
Brian Foley, spokesman for the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, confirmed Thursday that Commissioner James Rovella, after monitoring the violence in Washington on Wednesday, coordinated the Connecticut Terrorism and Intelligence Center’s communications with law enforcement throughout the state. Rovella asked them to maintain “situational awareness” of events and provide extra attention as officials deem necessary.
“Certain local police departments were contacted directly,” Foley said. “While there is no specific threat, out of an abundance of caution, some early lines of communication were opened yesterday afternoon with some folks in D.C. and in-state that might have a heightened concern regarding their safety and security. With the help of C.T.I.C. as well as Connecticut State Police Troopers detached to our federal partners, our monitoring of these types of events does not stop.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Thursday that while he hadn’t yet heard from Connecticut officials about supplementing his personal safety, he voiced confidence in them and cited occasions when he had to deal with threats.
“I feel very safe in Connecticut,” Blumenthal said during a news conference from Washington. “I have very good relationships with law enforcement throughout Connecticut. There have been times where there were physical threats against me and law enforcement responded very professionally and expertly and promptly.”
But Blumenthal was incensed by the security lapses that allowed the pro-Trump mob, encouraged by the president, to march to the Capitol building. He charged that the Department of Defense, aware of the threat, did little to help.
“All of law enforcement in the capital region is on notice that violence is not an abstract or hypothetical notion,” Blumenthal said, calling for a massive review of the pre-riot intelligence and the security response. “It is a real risk, and especially if the president continues to incite and fuel this kind of rioting and mob assault on our democracy, it will be something that has to be countered effectively. I have confidence in our military that our National Guard and other resources will be available to protect our physical safety going into January 20. Lessons must be learned.”
Lawmakers also called for the prosecution of people in Wednesday attack on the Capitol — the first since the British raided and burned Washington in 1814.
At the State Capitol on Wednesday, more than 100 metal barriers were set up to separate protesters from the outdoor swearing-in ceremonies for the 187 members of the House and Senate. While the demonstrations — mostly by Trump supporters and people opposed to mandatory vaccinations for school children — were noisy, there was only one arrest among the 500 protesters: a breach of peace charge against a former New Fairfield pharmacist who allegedly spat on someone.
Dozens of State Capitol Police were on the scene for the demonstration on the
17-acre campus, where organizers had estimated
2,000 people would attend. While the State Capitol complex and other state office buildings have been closed to the public since last March in the pandemic, state officials said Thursday that security protocols are regularly assessed and updated, with guidance from the emergency services departmnt.
All visitors must pass through metal detectors.
“We had some demonstrations here yesterday, as I am sure you are aware. and I think the Capitol police and state police handled it well, with local police,” Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday during his regular coronavirus news briefing.