WASHINGTON — The U.S. Capitol Police are calling for more security funding for lawmakers after last week’s attack on Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband at the couple’s San Francisco home.
Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said in a Tuesday statement that the department has conducted a review of the attack, in which a hammer-wielding assailant fractured Paul Pelosi’s skull.
“We believe today’s political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for members of Congress,” Manger said. “This plan would include an emphasis on adding redundancies to the measures that are already in place for congressional leadership.”
Manger said he could not publicly disclose the details of these improvements to protect members for safety reasons.
“The USCP is working tirelessly to keep everyone safe during this tense time in American politics,” Manger said. “We understand the urgency of today’s challenges and remain committed to our mission.”
Pelosi’s attacker, who broke into their home using a hammer, was targeting the speaker, who was not in town at the time. Paul Pelosi is making “steady progress on what will be a long recovery process,” Pelosi’s office said Monday.
Manger said the department is working to strengthen partnerships with law enforcement agencies across the country to provide security to members when they are outside of Washington.
“The assistance we receive from our partner agencies is crucial to ensure the safety and security of the members of Congress while they are away from the U.S. Capitol,” he said. “The department will continue to coordinate with state and local law enforcement agencies on member security.”
The Capitol Police have been implementing changes since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and are on track to hire 280 officers by the end of the year, Manger said.
“While progress has been made, there is still a lot of work to do,” Manger said. “The department’s long-term plans to expand our protective operations are already underway — their importance only emphasized by Friday’s brutal attack. We will continue to work with our congressional partners to add additional agents and security enhancements to support our protective operations mission.”
