US Capitol Police chief says prepared for future attacks on Congress

This week marks the second anniversary of the January 6 insurrection at the United States Capitol that saw dozens of law enforcement injured and several dead. The US Capitol Police chief says they are now prepared for future attacks on Congress following the dissolution of the bipartisan panel that investigated the events.

US Capitol Police chief Tom Manger said in a statement on Monday that they are now prepared for future attacks on Congress. Manger’s statement comes ahead of the second anniversary of the insurrection, where crowds of supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol to derail Congress’ certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory.

“The current threat climate, particularly against elected officials, will require continued and heightened vigilance,” said Manger in the statement. “With the polarized state of our nation, an attack like the one our Department endured on January 6, 2021, could be attempted again. Should the unthinkable happen, we will be ready.”

Last month, the bipartisan House panel investigating the insurrection said that Trump should face criminal charges for his role in the deadly incident. Trump was impeached for the second time following the insurrection by the House but was acquitted by the Republican-controlled Senate at the time.

The 18-month investigation into the insurrection ended when Republicans took control of the House in a narrow majority. At the time, the GOP vowed to dissolve the panel and launch probes into Biden and his administration, as well as Biden’s son Hunter Biden.

The committee released its final set of documents on the same day, citing security concerns and sending some of the records to the White House as well as the Department of Homeland Security to review and return to the National Archives.

Incoming House Democratic Leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, said it was now up to the Justice Department to pursue the investigation into the former president over the incident.

On the same day, a schedule released by Biden’s office said the US leader plans to mark the second anniversary of the insurrection with a ceremony at the White House. Biden has previously condemned the Jan. 6 insurrection as a threat to democracy and the rule of law but has rarely mentioned his immediate predecessor and has sought to frame his presidency around uniting and healing the divisions in the country.