House leaders decided to withdraw scheduled votes Thursday because of reports that supporters of QAnon’s conspiracy theory could try to storm the Capitol in a far-fetched scheme to return former President Donald Trump to office. according to a Democratic congressman.
The Capitol complex is ringed with 8-foot non-scalable wire fences and is still guarded by hundreds of National Guard members after the January 6 Capitol riot, during which a crowd of Trump supporters attacked the building and interrupted the certification. of President Biden’s victory.
But House leaders were afraid enough of another assault to move Thursday night’s voting to Wednesday night, Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) Told CNN.
“Yes, it’s right, it’s right,” Himes said, confirming that the House would not be in session Thursday because of the possible threat.
“Obviously, from a safety standpoint, it’s better to disperse to the four winds instead of concentrating on the same building,” Himes said.
But the Democrat, who is a member of the House intelligence committee, said he found it doubtful anyone could breach the Capitol given the intense security.
“Capitol Hill, and I’m sorry to report that, is still an armed camp. There are heavily armed and armored national guards everywhere. There are still fences. You can’t approach the Capitol without an identification, “said Himes.
He added: “Unless there is a very well-trained force on their way to Washington, DC, they will find security as they had never imagined.”
The House will vote late at night on legislation that includes a police reform bill so it doesn’t have to meet on Thursday.
According to reports, the threat involves online talks about a theory that Trump will return to power because historically March 4 was a date for presidential inaugurations, before it was modified on January 20th.
The January 6 Capitol riot came after Trump supporters easily went from fencing to the waist and approached Congress. Thousands of people who attended a speech by the then president near the White House descended on Capitol Hill as members of the crowd battled police to enter the building.