House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday that House members can pay for additional security measures with their Congressional funds, and said the House would likely need to approve additional funds for the security of members because “the enemy is inside the House of Representatives “.
“It shouldn’t be that not only is the President of the United States inciting an insurrection, but he continues to fan the flame, endangering the safety of members of Congress, to the point that they even worry that members of the Chamber of Deputies are a danger. for them, “she said.
Asked what she meant by “the enemy is in,” the California Democrat said, “This means that we have members of Congress who want to bring weapons to the ground and have violently threatened other members of Congress.”
Some Republican representatives, including Andy Harris of Maryland and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, reportedly expressed their desire or tried to bring weapons to the House floor, where they are prohibited. Pelosi ordered the installation of magnetometers outside the Chamber’s chamber after the January 6 attack and promised to impose thousands of dollars in fines for members who refused to carry out the screening.
Another Republican member, Georgia’s MP Marjorie Taylor Greene, posted a speech on Facebook in February 2019, where she said Pelosi, “is guilty of treason … a crime punishable by death.”
At the beginning of her press conference, the spokeswoman questioned the Republican leadership’s decision to give Greene a seat on the House Education and Work Committee in light of Greene’s earlier statement that school shootings were “flag” operations false “.
“What could they be thinking – or is it a very generous word about what they may be doing? It is absolutely scary,” said Pelosi.
The speaker’s comments came in response to a question about a request by more than 30 members of the House of Representatives to use their Congressional funds to increase their personal security in their home districts, by hiring local police or other security personnel, among others. stuff. The letter was first obtained by CBS News.
Members asked for greater latitude in the way they spend the Members’ Representation Allowance, an annual distribution set by the Board’s Management Committee that provides members with the operating budget for staff, postage and other office expenses to meet their official obligations.
“I think that while it is appropriate for them to use their MRA for their safety, they shouldn’t, because the money is there to meet the needs of constituents,” said Pelosi.
The January 6 attack on the United States Capitol increased the concern of many lawmakers about their personal security in Washington, but even more at home, where they lack the protection offered by the Capitol Police – and where most spend most of their time. .
Pelosi said he will be meeting on Thursday with retired Lieutenant General Russel Honoré, who is conducting a security review of the Capitol and studying security for members in Washington, DC and its districts, as well as transportation between them.
Zak Hudak contributed to this story.