Security fence to go up at Capitol for State of the Union

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Roll Call

Posted March 1, 2024 at 7:54pm


A security fence will surround the Capitol as President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address on March 7, according to three sources familiar with the decision.

The Capitol Police Board on Friday approved the installation of the fencing. A security fence went up around the Capitol for last year’s State of the Union speech.

The State of the Union is designated as a National Special Security Event, the highest security status the federal government can assign to an event. These are determined by the size, scope and potential threat profile.

U.S. Secret Service spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said people should expect to see a heavy law enforcement presence around the Capitol complex. He noted that there will be technology, plainclothes officers and support teams. The agency is working with Capitol Police, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department, the FBI, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and dozens of other federal and city agencies, Guglielmi said.

Read more: https://rollcall.com/2024/03/01/security-fence-to-go-up-at-capitol-for-state-of-the-union/

[ancianita]

1. With trump on the loose, all threats are credible.

Thanks.

[BumRushDaShow]

2. May need to add some of Abbott's razor wire

to keep the MAGats out.

[ancianita]

4. Not to mention, use it for

House MAGAts who want their 2A "right" to carry firearms into a joint session.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. "House MAGAts who want their 2A "right" to carry firearms into a joint session."

They are not even allowed to (concealed-) carry in the city of D.C. - https://mpdc.dc.gov/page/prohibited-places-carry-concealed-firearm

[ancianita]

7. Yet on Jan 6, law enforcement let them into DC. Something wasn't right about law enforcement that day.

I knew about the no-guns-in-DC law. I looked for statements from Mayor Bowser but don't remember that she was asked that, or honestly addressed that.

How does the danger of guns continue to happen there. I realize where there's a will there's a way, but still... It's not as if DC is too large to have traffic checkpoints.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. I remember watching the coverage that day

and in subsequent days (and monitored the "Sedition Hunters" when they put up their site) and I think, at least for LEO purposes, they wanted to go beyond anecdotal "reports" of weapons, and needed "evidence". The D.C. metro police did make a few arrests of stragglers from the big rally but then they deferred to the Capitol Police to police the Capitol grounds.

Of course it didn't help when you had a then-President demanding they get rid of the metal detectors at the rally site.

[ancianita]

14. We all noticed

different things that day. My first question when I saw photos of armed marchers in trees and on the sides of the crowd was, "why didn't they get arrested immediately once over the DC boundary, at all vehicle and foot traffic entrances?"

The whole area is mapped for all LEO's to exactly know all routes and the types of traffic, so there was never an excuse, and now, there's absolutely no excuse for not detaining and arresting all armed persons and/or vehicles once they've crossed the DC border. Get the arrestee busses and tow trucks ready.

Give them a taste of what will happen if they EVER try another Jan 6.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. "why didn't they get immediately arrested..."

There were some -

Police arrest 30 for violating Washington D.C. curfew after riot

Nation Jan 6, 2021 10:38 PM EST

Police have arrested 30 people for violating a curfew imposed in Washington, D.C., after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

Officials say the 30 people were arrested Wednesday evening after being found on the streets after the 6 p.m. curfew.

The curfew had been imposed after scores of supporters of President Donald Trump broke into the Capitol, halting the constitutional process of voting to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s win. They were later forcibly removed from the Capitol.

The Metropolitan Police Department said 15 other people had been arrested on Tuesday and Wednesday in various protest-related arrests on an array of charges, including weapons possession and assault.

(snip)

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/police-arrest-30-for-violating-washington-d-c-curfew-after-riot

The Capitol Police also arrested some - https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-capitol-police-arrests-january-6-2021

Obviously not enough but I remember the coverage where the media were questioning what the hell was going on and managed to find that there were scattered arrests here and there.

I remember what was noted during that week and in the months after, where it was pointed out that there was an obvious disproportionate response - e.g, compared to a BLM protest - https://abcnews.go.com/US/debate-rages-race-role-police-response-capitol-riot/story?id=75945758

[ancianita]

20. Thanks. All of that's good to remember going toward November 5. Local LEO's will be even better prepared by Jan 2025.

[BumRushDaShow]

22. Since this year will be the first implementing the revisions to the "Electoral Count Act"

(which includes provisions that ban "fake electors", etc.) they will be ready WELL BEFORE January 2025 as they monitor what happens leading up to, during, and just after the November election, as states prepare for their Electoral College activities.

[Think. Again.]

3. It just occurred to me ...

... while reading this OP about national security measures, I was instinctively thinking about these threats as being 'domestic', coming from our own citizens.

It's a little shocking to realize that our biggest threats aren't coming from outside our borders anymore.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. "It's a little shocking to realize that our biggest threats aren't coming from outside our borders anymore."

Domestic terrorism has been a thing since way before 9/11 - https://theconversation.com/100-years-ago-the-kkk-planted-bombs-at-a-us-university-part-of-the-terror-groups-crusade-against-american-catholics-219287

[Think. Again.]

12. I'm an old guy...

...I'm aware of the domestic strife we've suffered all along.

My statement about the 'biggest' national threats, threats that endanger the very foundation of our nation, refers to the relatively recent (20 years or so?) development of American citizens in large numbers attempting to break our institutions.

[ancianita]

8. It's been historical... the irresponsible use of freedom to deny others freedom,

to fear and hate the invented "other," using the term of "patriot" to describe those who would kill sitting presidents.

[jmowreader]

9. They need to go one better

Put a battalion of the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) inside the fence. It's a National Guard unit, so posse comitatus issues won't arise...and the 20th is just as hardcore as any active-duty SFG(A).

[ancianita]

10. The report brings up SOTU as a National Special Security Event. Jan 6, 2020 itself was not designated as such.

But from now on Jan 6 should be. AND without the Secret Service serving as the "lead" agency.
So yeah, the Presidential Protection Act of 2000 (the year of Bush v Gore) needs an Executive Order to offset its loopholes. Or a newly seated Democratic majority of the House and Senate, on Jan 3, 2025, can amend that act to change the agency in charge, among other improvements.



Typical NSSE security measures include:

Interagency coordination and interoperability [which, under Trump, wasn't the case on Jan 6 between Secret Service & other agencies -- or if it was, SS "lost" all their text messages related to that]
Heavy police (days off and leaves may be canceled) and often National Guard presence[3]
Police dogs for bomb detection[1]
Surveillance
WMD detection, mitigation, and decontamination
Sharpshooters and other tactical capabilities
Flight restrictions around the area[3]
United States Coast Guard patrols[3]
Increased railroad security[3]
Extensive road closures[1][3]
When applicable members of Joint Task Force - Civil Support and the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) are deployed

The Secret Service notes that since the "Presidential Protection Act of 2000 became public law...the Secret Service is authorized to participate in the planning, coordination and implementation of security operations at special events of national significance....[and that] when an event is designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security as a National Special Security Event (NSSE), the Secret Service assumes its mandated role as the lead agency for the design and implementation of the operational security plan...The goal of the cooperating agencies is to provide a safe and secure environment for Secret Service protectees, other dignitaries, the event participants and the general public. There is a tremendous amount of advance planning and coordination in preparation for these events.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Special_Security_Event

[BumRushDaShow]

15. There were some security changes made in a supplemental appropriations bill in 2021

Last edited Sat Mar 2, 2024, 10:01 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/29/1022318269/senate-approves-2-1-billion-emergency-funding-bill-for-capitol-police

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Emergency%20Security%20Supplemental%20Appropriations%20Act%202021_Summary_FINAL.pdf

Haven't had chance to dig up the actual legislation but this was done after the very first (often forgotten) J6 Committee Hearing held July 21 2021, not long after the Committee came into being, that focused on the security failures (the later, more well-known hearings, didn't happen until almost a year later).

(fixed the video link for the correct one)

[ancianita]

17. Thanks! Now is Biden's and Homeland's chance to use that money & implement the security improvements.

The Senate legislation was quickly taken up by the House of Representatives, which passed it 416-11. The bill now heads to President Biden's desk for his signature...

The Senate bill directs $100 million for the Capitol Police, including pay for overtime, mental health support and training. The plan also directs $300 million for new Capitol security measures and more than $1 billion to the Defense Department, Shelby noted. Of that Defense Department funding, $500 million will go to the National Guard, which also saw its funds depleted after security was ramped up following the deadly insurrection....

[BumRushDaShow]

19. I found this as well

https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-response-oig-report
https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-response-oig-report-3
https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-response-us-senate-capitol-attack-report-0
https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/uscp-response-oig-report-4

It think some of the changes that were recommended per the above were funded in that supplemental appropriations bill.

[ancianita]

21. Great! Thanks. You are lead researcher around DU. Glad to know they're much better funded this time.

[BumRushDaShow]

23. CSPAN junkie!

[ancianita]

24. Thanks for being one so we don't have to!

[AverageOldGuy]

13. What about . . .

He noted that there will be technology, plainclothes officers and support teams.

Let's hope they will have automatic rifles and lots of ammo at the ready.

The only thing police did wrong in Jan 6 was shoot and kill one J6er. Should have stacked up the bodies about six high all around the Capitol.

In other countries, when a coup fails, those who attempted the coup either:
1. Are executed, often on the spot.
2. Go to jail for a loooong time.
3. Are exiled to a foreign country, never to return home.

While I'm in favor of #1, 2 or 3 is fine.

[2naSalit]

16. Thanks magats.