During a late afternoon in September, three young women who work for Rep. Mike Carey, an Ohio Republican, decided to walk three blocks to a coffee shop on Capitol Hill. Suddenly, a man wielding a razor lunged at them and threatened to attack. Although the women were uninjured, the incident left them shaken, according to an office spokesperson. The U.S. Capitol Police found the razor nearby, but the suspected attacker remains at large.
Carey, in his address at the hearing, made mention of the incident involving his team members.
"We had three of our young staffers that were just walking back on Capitol Hill that were attacked by a homeless guy with a knife," he recounted. According to a police summary examined by CBS News, the suspect made a sudden movement towards the women with a sharp metal object, but managed to evade capture after the police searched the area. A razor blade was discovered nearby.
Manger informed the House panel about other recent incidents, including a "member and a staff member carjacked and a staff member assaulted after the (annual) congressional baseball game."
Last year in March, a Senate staffer sustained potential brain bleeding and a punctured lung in a stabbing incident near a restaurant in Northeast Washington, D.C., a few blocks away from the Capitol campus. Glynn Neal of Washington, D.C. was apprehended by the police shortly after the alleged assault. Neal's legal case is currently paused as he undergoes mental competency evaluation, as per court records scrutinized by CBS News.
Just weeks before this event, a D.C. resident punched and tried to confine Democratic Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota in the elevator of Craig's Capitol Hill apartment complex.
Craig's daring escape involved tossing scalding coffee at Kendrid Hamlin before darting out of the elevator at the next stop. Hamlin, who has a history of prior offenses, admitted guilt in the incident and is currently behind bars serving a 27-month sentence.
Manger reassured the committee that his agency is "adapting" to combat threats beyond the Capitol premises. "My top priority is ensuring the safety of you and your loved ones," he emphasized. Manger highlighted the escalating frequency of threats against members of Congress in their home states and districts, including targeted attacks on family members such as the 2022 assault on Paul Pelosi, spouse of former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
He informed the committee about the establishment of a "protective intelligence operations center" by the Capitol Police. This center will act as a command post for protective units assigned to safeguard lawmakers, offering security measures at their residences and monitoring residential security for the individuals under protection.
While recent incidents in Washington, D.C., do not point to specific law enforcement shortcomings, they have sparked growing apprehension among legislators.
Representative Stephanie Bice, a Republican from Oklahoma, expressed her desire for young individuals to be eager to work in the nation's capital. She emphasized the importance of providing a safe environment for them and their families to encourage participation in government activities.
Chief Tom Manger addressed the committee, highlighting the shift in the approach to law enforcement within the department. He emphasized the need to safeguard not only the members themselves but also their surroundings and families, adapting to the current context and ensuring comprehensive protection.
On Thursday, congressional leaders unveiled a funding proposal for the U.S. Capitol Police to support their operations in the upcoming months. The agency's focus is on recruiting additional officers and filling vacant positions. A spokesperson shared that the anticipated funding will enable the agency to boost staffing levels, upgrade intelligence capabilities, and modernize security measures to enhance the safety of members both in the Capitol and their home districts.
The Capitol complex stands out from other federal facilities by not being walled-in or surrounded by permanent fencing. It is nestled among businesses and residential communities, allowing for driving and public parking. Manger emphasized, "We patrol a campus that is completely open. The public has a constitutional right to visit, protest, and petition their Representatives on Capitol Grounds." Recent incidents include the apprehension of an individual suspected of carrying a high-powered firearm near the US Senate office buildings.
Many of the recent attempted assaults and attacks have targeted congressional staff and members off-campus, falling under the jurisdiction of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police (MPD). During a House hearing on Thursday, a D.C. police union representative raised concerns about staffing shortages. Union president Gregg Pemberton stated, "The MPD currently has over 500 vacancies for the position of sworn officer, and our chief of police has testified that it will take over a decade to fill them."
Several recent attacks against congressional staff and members have been promptly investigated, leading to arrests, such as the assault on Craig.
The D.C. Metropolitan Police assured CBS News in a statement that officers are actively working to combat crime and ensure the safety of residents and visitors across the District of Columbia. Collaboration with federal law enforcement is maintained to uphold security in Capitol Hill and its nearby neighborhoods.
Democratic Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the House representative for Washington, D.C., challenged Republican assertions of increased danger, labeling the committee hearing as "a scare tactic" and attributing it to flawed statistics.
"Crime rates in D.C. are on a downward trend across various metrics," stated Norton. "It is paradoxical that Republican members of Congress, who do not have representation from D.C., are utilizing their undemocratic authority over D.C. for a House Administration Committee hearing that is based on outdated data and serves no legislative purpose."
However, several House representatives who spoke with CBS News voiced apprehension regarding the influence of local crime on Congressional staff, visitors, and potential employees. Rep. Anthony D'Esposito, a Republican from New York with a background in law enforcement, informed CBS News that the issue of crime "continues to have a detrimental effect on all individuals residing, working, or visiting our nation's capital."
