On Tuesday, U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers arrested Richard Griffin, 43, of Pennsylvania, after he was accused of threatening to kill a member of Congress near the Senate office building. The arrest took place as Griffin was stopped before he could attempt to go through security screening at the Russell Senate Office Building’s Delaware Avenue door. According to officials, Griffin had a history of emailing a Congressional office and various government officials and law enforcement agencies, according to officials.
The USCP’s Rapid Response Team identified Griffin based on a bulletin issued by the Threat Assessment Section on October 28, highlighting the agency’s ongoing efforts to ensure the safety of Congress and its staff. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan emphasized the organization’s zero-tolerance stance against threats to Congress members and their families, stating,