The killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has rattled Capitol Hill, prompting lawmakers from both parties to cancel or move outdoor events as fears of political violence surge in Washington and beyond, Politico reported.
Members of Congress are reassessing how they interact with the public after Kirk, 31, was fatally shot Wednesday while speaking at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., said Kirk’s death and the July assassination attempt against President Donald Trump highlight vulnerabilities in outdoor events. “You could have lots of individual security and not notice someone lying down on the rooftop,” Comer said. “I think the outdoor events, especially, members are going to really have to start thinking about security.”
Security concerns immediately changed congressional routines.
Democratic Reps. Delia Ramirez of Illinois and Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California shifted planned outdoor press conferences indoors on Thursday. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., postponed a North Carolina rally and said public safety now requires different calculations. “From the moment I was elected, I have felt that I accept a certain level of risk in doing this job,” she said, adding that congressional security protocols are “for a bygone time. … They’re not designed for a digital threat environment era.”
Other lawmakers are also adjusting.
Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who is running for governor, said she is canceling all outdoor appearances and plans to carry a firearm. “I will have a firearm on my person all the time, and I will have security,” she said. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., said he ended outdoor events earlier this year due to repeated threats.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said he has received calls from worried members and is reviewing security options. But he cautioned that providing round-the-clock protection for all 535 lawmakers would cost billions. “There are many security measures in place for members of Congress, at their homes, at their offices, and when they go about. But we live in a dangerous society, and it’s difficult to cover even the president of the United States from every angle,” Johnson said.
Threats against members have steadily increased. The U.S. Capitol Police reported nearly 14,000 threat assessments this year, up from 9,000 in 2023. The agency said it has “been operating in a heightened threat environment for a long time” and has increased its coordination with other law enforcement partners.
Some lawmakers opt for defiance in the face of intimidation.
“You can’t give into the violence,” Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., added that Kirk “would not want people to be quiet, whether you agree with him or not.”
Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was a key conservative voice credited with helping energize young voters for Trump’s successful 2024 campaign. His death follows other high-profile political attacks this year, including the Minnesota shootings that killed former state House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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