Capitol Police decision to allow protesters to vandalize Capitol grounds questioned

[___________]

Lawmakers are questioning U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Chief Phillip Morse about his controversial decision to allow anti-war protesters to spray paint a portion of the Capitol west-front terrace this past weekend.

Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.), ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Committee’s legislative branch subcommittee, wrote a letter to Morse yesterday saying that he is “disgusted” that anti-war protesters were allowed to spray paint the terrace as police watched.

“I am disgusted by these actions, and the lack of efforts to protect public integrity,” Allard stated in his letter. “I am absolutely dismayed by the vandalism and the blatant disregard for respect of property that occurred at our Nation’s Capitol this weekend.”

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee’s legislative branch subcommittee, was less critical of the USCP, and plans to discuss the event at a prearranged meeting tomorrow, said spokesman Jonathan Beeton yesterday.

“I’m not sure that anybody’s too pleased about the way this turned out,” Beeton said. However, Wasserman Schultz does not want to question Morse’s “judgment when he was on the ground and she wasn’t. There’s a balance that they have to strike. It’s a very difficult job.”

The USCP Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) rejected attempts to downplay the situation.

“The officers of the U.S. Capitol Police are upset that some of this weekend’s demonstrators were able to deface part of the Capitol Complex,” Andy Maybo, chairman of the Capitol Police FOP, said in a statement yesterday. “The officers, who did their job both professionally and courageously, were ordered to withdraw by their officials and let the demonstrators have the area where the graffiti was later discovered.”

He added, “But, we must follow the orders of our officials even when we may disagree with such orders. We are just thankful that no one was injured.”

New details have surfaced regarding the incident where protesters were allowed to scrawl graffiti on the lower west terrace of the Capitol building.

According to a Democratic leadership aide, 50 to 60 protesters, rather than the 300 figure that was reported by The Hill over the weekend, were involved in the act of vandalism, which took place after the main peace march took place. The aide said a large tour group was leaving the Capitol simultaneously as the protesters approached the Capitol. The staffer also said that contrary to initial accounts, the Capitol was not shut down in the wake of the protesters approaching the building.

http://www.thehill.com/thehill/expor...3007/uscp.html

[jwreck]

but...but the other thread said the mean ol cops acted like nazis and wanted to beat people up for no reason...

[Corporate Avenger]

Capitol hill is defaced everyday those crooked politicians occupy it.

Let's compare the crimes committed by the *******s inside that building to a little graffiti!!

[jwreck]

Originally Posted by Corporate Avenger

Capitol hill is defaced everyday those crooked politicians occupy it.

Let's compare the crimes committed by the *******s inside that building to a little graffiti!!

yeah! yeah! because i don't agree with the politicians, i can do whatever i want!

[86Dude]

They deserve a beat down or at least an arrest when they stoop to that level. No reason to vandalize the place.

[92Notch]

it takes a real cocksucker to stoop to that level, to spray paint the capitol. they should be kicked in the nuts, given a beat-down, and then arrested.