It is merely the latest indication of how seriously the threat of political violence is being addressed by lawmakers in the Capitol, as the selection committee publicly reveals the findings of its almost annual investigation into the January 6 uprising. Committee members say they are taking additional security measures – including the request for security details, which has already been assigned to several lawmakers – amid growing concerns about their safety as public hearings unfold. Kinzinger acknowledged that he had stepped up his efforts for personal security, but declined to give further details, saying: “We are working to protect ourselves.” In recent days, it has been identified with a security detail. U.S. Capitol police do not automatically provide security to members, even if they request it, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. Members may request an open source review of publicly available information for consideration by the USCP, but the USCP makes its own calculations as to which members receive security based on active violent threats. “It’s always a concern for people … For some members, it’s a relatively new experience. For other members, it’s an old experience. So we have a range on the committee, but we are all committed to making sure that everyone involved in this process is safe, “said Maryland Democrat MP Jamie Raskin, who serves on the selection committee.” A new analysis released to CNN by Advance Democracy, a non-profit organization that conducts public inquiries, found that calls for violence against members of the Jan. 6 commission were circulating on some of the same online platforms that helped feed in the uprising. Users on these platforms openly request the execution of the committee members, with the specific aim of the vice-chair of the selection committee, the vice-chair of the selection committee, Liz Cheney from the GOP. Kinzinger told CNN he heard a voice message Wednesday morning with another death threat. He also said that while all the selected members of the committee are facing security concerns, he and Cheney in particular have become big targets. But Kinzinger said his biggest concern was what it meant for the “political body” that people felt comfortable threatening violence – which, incidentally, was one of the central themes of their research.
The jury sought to link Trump’s actions to the violence on Jan. 6, when a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, endangering then-Vice President Mike Pence. The hearings also included testimonies from government officials and election officials who received threats and harassment over Trump’s election lies. “It’s not just us, but everyone across the country – there is an increased threat,” Kinzinger said. “This is my concern, that one day someone will take it to the next level.” During the second trial for Trump’s referral, the House’s referral directors were assigned a security detail. A similar arrangement could be made for the nine members of the selection committee, but it has not been decided, according to a separate source familiar with the matter. If members want insurance not provided by the USCP, they can pay for security staff through their membership allowance. The budget for security spending, such as personal security, was recently increased by 21% as part of the 2022 appropriations bill. Assigning more police officers to protect lawmakers while in Washington, DC, could put additional pressure on an already understaffed law enforcement agency. CNN previously reported that June marks a particularly demanding month for DC law enforcement authorities in charge of managing major events, Supreme Court seismic opinions, and security around the Jan. 6 hearings. Capitol Police have relied on local law enforcement partners, such as Baltimore Police and services serving Alexandria, Virginia. A source told CNN that Capitol police asked neighboring Montgomery County police for help, but were unable to do so. The agency is closely focused on protecting Supreme Court justices in its jurisdiction, the source said. Human resources remain the biggest problem for the Capitol Police, which continues to say that there are hundreds of officers who are far from where they should be. In addition to obtaining security details, there are other examples of how members had to adapt to the increased threat environment. Cheney, perhaps the high-ranking member of the commission, had to take security concerns into account when trying to plan major campaigns, sources said. He had a security detail from last year, when he voted for Trump’s ouster and went on to declare his election lies. The 10 Republicans in Cheney’s Republican House who voted for Trump’s ouster were also targeted, although they have retreated since the ouster’s climax last year. Retired MP Fred Upton from Michigan said he needed to upgrade security at his county office and had secret police with him when he attended some local events. “You are careful,” Upton said. “When they call your office or home, as they have done to me, it’s scary. And it’s true. “ Mississippi MP Bennie Thompson, the Democratic chairman of the selection committee that began receiving security information just before the hearing began, said the new normal had become normal. There has been a 144% increase in member-related threats and suspicious behavior towards lawmakers over the past five years, with nearly 10,000 cases last year alone, according to Capitol police statistics. “You know, since January 6, it has been a different environment here at the Capitol. And we get periodic updates from Capitol police and others about being careful,” Thompson said. “And it’s so sad that the environment is a bit like that, but after January 6, it’s not the same.”