Sergeant at arms says waving staffers through checkpoints is security breach

U.S. Capitol Police are violating security protocol by not consistently screening staffers accompanying lawmakers, the House sergeant at arms said Wednesday.

Sergeant at Arms Bill Livingood told the House Appropriations Committee’s Legislative Branch subcommittee that there have been “inconsistencies” when it comes to enforcing the policy that every staffer must be screened through metal detectors when entering the U.S. Capitol building.

“I am very aware that there are inconsistencies, because I hear about them from members and staff in security screening processes,” Livingood said.

Livingood said he and Capitol Police Chief Phillip Morse have been addressing the issue with officers to make sure they screen every person who comes through an entrance to the Capitol if he or she is not a law enforcement official or member of Congress.

There have been multiple instances when lawmakers were running late to votes or meetings in the Capitol and officers waved through accompanying staff members without screening them for weapons or contraband first, according to several members at the Legislative Branch subcommittee hearing on Wednesday and in interviews afterward.

Livingood’s acknowledgement of breakdowns in security procedure comes less than a week after a gunman dressed like a Pentagon employee opened fire on two officers at an entrance to the building, wounding three officers in the process.

It also comes just three years after a staff member for Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) was arrested trying to carry a loaded pistol and two loaded ammunition clips into the Russell Senate Office Building in a briefcase. After some confusion about whose gun it was and whether the staffer knew it was in the briefcase, the charges were eventually dismissed.

In addition to the security concerns, lawmakers complained that not knowing what security procedures to expect prevents them from moving as swiftly as possible through the complex.

“I completely understand that we need to have more restricted access to the Capitol, but we don’t have consistent reinforcement of that,” said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), the subcommittee chairwoman, at the hearing.

“And when you’re ... trying to get through your day and you’re clotheslined at a door — that some days you have access with staff, and some days you don’t — it’s frustrating and it impedes the progress of your day.”

Wasserman Schultz emphasized that she didn’t have a problem with screening staffers who accompany lawmakers through Capitol entrances, but she stressed the need to have the same screening standards at all entrances at all times.

Livingood made clear that the policy is for all staff entering the Capitol to be screened through the metal detectors at each entrance, regardless of who they are walking with.

“I’ve reviewed this with Capitol Police Chief Morse and there is no change in the current policy,” Livingood said.

Livingood assured Wasserman Schultz that he would be notifying lawmakers of the uniform screening protocol in the coming weeks so they know what to expect when bringing staff with them.

When asked whether the Capitol Police department was aware of the inconsistencies, a Capitol Police spokeswoman said, “Regarding the security of the Capitol Campus, the U.S. Capitol Police work in concert with the respective sergeant at arms and the U.S. Capitol Police Board to address any security items.”

The House does not require criminal background checks to be conducted on the 8,000 staff members who work with lawmakers.

Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) said that it’s a member’s responsibility to make sure he or she doesn’t hire criminals who could accompany the lawmaker in circumventing metal detectors while potentially carrying a weapon into the Capitol.

“Shame on the member if the member, if they’re bringing a criminal in the building,” said LaTourette, who sits on the subcommittee but did not attend the hearing.

After being briefed about the panel’s discussion, LaTourette said he was fine with lawmakers vouching for a staff member.

Rep. Dan Lungren (Calif.) said he was OK with police not screening staffers who accompany members through entrances, saying lawmakers should be allowed to vouch for their staff. Lungren is the ranking Republican on the House Administration Committee, which also oversees the Capitol Police.

“I’ve seen different approaches used and it seemed to me in most instances it was whether or not the people monitoring the magnetometers were familiar with the member or not,” he said in an interview.

“I personally do not have a problem with a member vouching for a staff person or family member being waved through. Now, maybe I need to sit down with Bill Livingood and talk about that.”

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