Capitol Police investigate fewer threats against lawmakers in 2022
Samantha-Jo Roth
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The number of investigations U.S. Capitol Police opened into threats toward members of Congress decreased in 2022 but remains “historically high,” the department said in a press release on Tuesday.
Capitol Police investigated a total of 7,501 cases this past year regarding “concerning statements” and “direct threats.” The caseload in 2022 was lower for the first time in two years, the agency said, in comparison to 9,625 in 2021, 8,613 in 2020, and 6,955 in 2019.
“The threats against Members of Congress are still too high,” said Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger. “This has resulted in a necessary expansion of not only our investigative capabilities but our protection responsibilities as well.”
The new figures come after Manger said threats against lawmakers are up 400% in the last six years during a Senate hearing in mid-December. He said there had been 9,000 threats against lawmakers in the last year, compared to the roughly 1,000 threats against members of Congress in 2017.
CAPITOL POLICE CHIEF: MORE THAN 9,000 THREATS AGAINST LAWMAKERS IN PAST YEAR
In an assessment by the department, Capitol Police found the number of threats against lawmakers is similar for both Republicans and Democrats. In 2021, Capitol Police opened field offices to deal with threats against members in Florida and California. The agency specified these agents are not investigating cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
“Overall, during the last couple of decades, the Threat Assessment Section’s caseload has increased because people on social media have a false sense of anonymity and feel more emboldened,” said Dr. Mario Scalora, the Capitol Police’s consulting psychologist. “This is not a problem we can only arrest our way out of.”
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While Manger emphasized that their work to investigate and stop threats to lawmakers is ongoing, their efforts are only one piece of the puzzle.
“Everyone continuing to decrease violent political rhetoric across the country is the best way to keep everyone safe,” he said.