Donald Trump supporters want to ‘blow up’ US Capitol during Joe Biden speech, police chief warns
- Militia groups behind last month’s deadly attack are hoping to kill US lawmakers, and could strike during the president’s State of the Union address
- Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman warned of the need for continued high security of the building until ‘vulnerabilities’ are addressed
Donald Trump supporters who launched a deadly assault on the US Capitol last month have indicated they want to “blow up” the building and kill members of Congress, the acting chief of the Capitol Police said on Thursday.
Threats suggest extremists could target the building during an address by President Joe Biden, Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman told lawmakers as she advocated for continued high security around the building.
“Members of militia groups that were present on January 6 have stated their desires that they want to blow up the Capitol and kill as many members as possible with a direct nexus to the State of the Union,” Pittman told members of the House Appropriations Committee.
“We think that it’s prudent that Capitol Police maintain its enhanced and robust security posture until we address those vulnerabilities going forward,” she said.
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A date has not been announced for Biden to deliver his State of the Union address to Congress, which typically happens early in the year.