Capitol Police bolstering travel security for lawmakers

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Capitol Police are stepping up security at Washington-area transportation hubs and taking other steps to safeguard traveling lawmakers as Congress continues to react to this month's deadly assault on the Capitol.

Capitol Police will be stationed at area airports and Washington’s Union Station railway hub on busy travel days, the House's chief law enforcement officer wrote in an email obtained Friday by The Associated Press. Timothy P. Blodgett, the acting sergeant at arms, wrote that officials were setting up an online portal so lawmakers can notify them of travel plans and urged legislators to report threats and suspicious activity.

“Members and staff should remain vigilant of their surroundings and immediately report anything unusual or suspicious," said the email, sent late Thursday.

Blodgett said lawmakers have previously been advised that they can use office expense accounts to pay for security to protect their offices and events in their districts and for self-protection while performing official duties. It also cited a 2017 Federal Elections Commission opinion that they can use campaign contributions to install security systems at their homes.

President Joe Biden is in “close touch” with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., about congressional security, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

Pelosi told reporters Thursday that lawmakers face threats of violence from an “enemy” within Congress and said money would be needed to improve security. Pelosi's comments were a startling acknowledgment of escalating internal tensions between the two parties over safety since the Jan. 6 Capitol attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump.

Also Thursday, the acting chief of the Capitol Police said “vast improvements" are needed to protect the Capitol and adjacent...