The Secret Service has announced that the upcoming counting and certification of electoral votes at the Capitol in January, the first since the January 6 riot in 2021, will have significantly increased security measures. The Department of Homeland Security has designated the event as a national special security event, similar to the State of the Union address and the Super Bowl. This designation aims to prevent a repeat of the chaos that occurred during the 2021 count when a mob of President Trump’s supporters stormed the Capitol. The Secret Service will oversee planning for the event.
The designation of a national special security event is a first for the certification of electoral votes and is considered an event of the highest national significance. The Secret Service, in collaboration with federal, state, and local partners, is committed to ensuring the safety and security of the event and its participants. The Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser requested the designation, and federal, state, and local resources will be used in the security plan.
Reports from the former House Jan. 6 committee and the Government Accountability Office recommended enhanced security measures for the event. The riot in 2021 resulted in four deaths and approximately 140 assaults on police officers, as well as around $1.5 million in damage to the Capitol building. A panel of representatives from various levels of law enforcement will meet in the coming weeks to work on planning for the event.
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