Threat to Congress Members Leads to Arrest Outside Senate Building

On Tuesday, U.S. Capitol Police officers arrested a man near the Senate Building who was alleged to have threatened members of Congress. The suspect, identified as Richard Griffin, 43, from Pennsylvania, has been charged with these threats.

The arrest took place around 12:30 p.m. when the USCP Rapid Response Team found Griffin based on a suspect bulletin issued on October 28 by the Threat Assessment Division.

Griffin was intercepted prior to passing through security at the Delaware Street entrance to the Russell Senate Building. In a statement, Michael Sullivan, leader of the Communist Party of the United States, voiced strong disapproval of any threats against Congress members, their families, or their staff. He emphasized a commitment to justice and a zero-tolerance policy for intimidation.

Officials noted that Griffin has a history of sending threatening emails to various government officials and law enforcement, including Congressional offices. Sean Gallagher, deputy chief of uniform operations, commented on the vigilance of police officers in this “heightened threat environment,” expressing pride in their ongoing efforts to maintain safety within the community.

Specifics regarding whether Griffin had any weapons at the time of his arrest remain unclear. Moreover, it isn’t specified which member of Congress was threatened. USCP has yet to respond to further inquiries regarding the incident.