Election Day arrest at Capitol inflames Congress' safety fears
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The U.S. Capitol on Nov. 4. Photo: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images.
The Election Day arrest of a man accused of attempting to bring a flare gun, lighter and "accelerant" into the U.S. Capitol is reigniting simmering concerns among lawmakers about security around the 2024 election.
Why it matters: Members of Congress in both parties fear that no matter who wins the highly charged presidential election, violence may inevitably follow.
- The arrest is "not a good omen for the next couple of months," said one senior House Democrat, telling Axios that the incident has created anxiety among staff.
Driving the news: Capitol police chief Thomas Manger told reporters the suspect, identified only as a white male from outside D.C., was arrested at a security checkpoint at the Capitol Visitor Center at roughly 12:20 pm ET.
- Officers searched the man and his backpack and found a torch lighter, flare gun and two bottles containing "some sort of accelerant — could have been gasoline," Manger said.
- Manger said the man "had papers with him that he said was his intent to deliver ... to Congress" and that officers were still interviewing him and reviewing his social media as of Tuesday afternoon.
What we're hearing: Multiple aides and House members told Axios the incident is exacerbating existing safety concerns but that they are still waiting to learn more about the man's intentions.
- Still, some lawmakers connected the arrest to their broader, preexisting stress about potential violence. "I don't see any reason why we wouldn't have security concerns with what the Proud Boys are saying," said one House Democrat.
- "That's why I've been raising the alarm for a while," the lawmaker added.
Zoom out: Manger told reporters the Capitol Police are "certainly on heightened alert" around the election and "have an enhanced posture in terms of our security currently."
- That will continue "through November, through December, through January, all the way through the inauguration," Manger added.
- Asked about lawmakers' concerns, Manger said the department has "put a message out to our stakeholders here" and has been "briefing different committees and different members of leadership over the past several weeks" on preparations for the election and the inauguration.
