Six month after an insurrection in the U.S. Capitol attempted to halt the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory over incumbent Donald Trump, Capitol Police intends to open a field office near San Francisco, and in other states, to "investigate threats" against members of Congress.
Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananada Pittman announced Tuesday in a statement that the department "is in the process of" opening field offices in California and Florida, as well as providing more security for members away from Washington.
A department spokesperson then confirmed to KCBS Radio on Tuesday afternoon that those offices will open in the San Francisco and Tampa, Florida areas.
"At this time, Florida and California are where the majority of our threats originate from," a spokesperson told KCBS Radio.
California has the largest congressional delegation, with 53 representatives and two senators. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy call the state home, and Pelosi’s district consists of all of San Francisco.
The regional offices are the first since the department was founded in 1826, the spokesperson said. Capitol Police "will be working closely" with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in the Northern District of California and the Middle District of Florida, which have offices in San Francisco and Tampa, respectively.
"More field offices will be opening in the future," the spokesperson said.
Capitol Police on Tuesday said over 500 people face charges following the riots in January. Five people died and over 150 officers were injured on Jan. 6 during the storming of the Capitol, as rioters tried to halt congressional certification of Biden’s Electoral College win following former President Trump’s repeated, false claims the election was stolen.
Last week, Pelosi announced the creation of a select committee to investigate the insurrection. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a 14-term congresswoman who serves most of San Jose, was one of the eight members appointed to the committee. Five more will be named following consultation with Minority Leader McCarthy.
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