Democrats push to end security exemption on Capitol Hill as Republicans demand the right to carry guns – By Ryan Nobles and Haley Talbot (NBC News) / Feb 28, 2023
House Democrats are calling on President Joe Biden to name a new architect of the Capitol who will force members of Congress to go through security screenings.
WASHINGTON — Staff Sgt. Aquilino Gonell recently retired from the U.S. Capitol Police after he was injured in the Jan. 6 attack. But he remains worried about one, seemingly small, security gap on Capitol Hill that could lead to a big problem.
Members of Congress and, often, the people they enter the Capitol with are not screened by security when they enter the Capitol complex.
“Oh, it is disturbing,” Gonell said. “The protocol is for them to pass around security.”
Staff members of the House Administration Committee confirmed that members and their guests are not required to be screened. Capitol Police declined to comment.
