Capitol Police warn complex still vulnerable, 3 years after Jan. 6

The U.S. Capitol Police and Park Police Labor Committees on Friday warned that the U.S. Capitol complex still faces security weaknesses three years after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

"Three years after the January 6th, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, the Union for front line Capitol Police officers says the Capitol complex is still vulnerable to attack, yet all of the reports after January 6th pointed to the failures of USCP's leadership at the top without any accountability," the committees stated in a joint press release. "In fact, several of these leaders have been promoted."

"The Capitol Police union says the Department has not kept pace with the changes needed to meet the growing number of threats to Members of Congress, their staff, and visitors to the Capitol," they added.

The panels specifically highlighted concerns from union Chariman Gus Papathanasiou regarding insufficient manpower and the sluggish implementation of security reforms at the facility. Amid those issues, Papathanasiou highlighted the rising number of threats against members of Congress.

"We've never seen a threat environment like this. Given the profound divisions in this country and this year's elections, people ask me if I'm concerned and I tell them I am worried - very worried," he said. "There may be another contested election and we still haven't addressed the manpower and security vulnerabilities that have been identified."

U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police Chairman Kenneth Spencer, meanwhile, contended that the manpower shortages were likely to present a significant problem in what he characterized as practically inevitable disturbances in the wake of the 2024 presidential election.

"The government's neglect of, and disregard for, urban federal law enforcement is shocking and irresponsible given the reality of our recent election cycles,"  No matter who wins, there will be massive protests throughout the District and I'm very concerned about our readiness due to the officer staffing crisis. If you think we were outmanned on January 6th just wait to see what happens come the inauguration early next year."

Jan. 6, 2021, saw supporters of former President Donald Trump enter the Capitol, some of whom aimed to halt the certification of the election results. The characterization of the incident remains a matter of intense dispute, with Trump critics deeming it an "insurrection" and attempting to disqualify him from returning to the White House under the 14th Amendment.

The Supreme Court agreed Friday to address the matter after the Colorado Supreme Court disqualified Trump from the state ballot along that line of reasoning. 

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.