On Wednesday, U.S. Capitol Police apprehended a man trying to enter the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C., carrying a machete, just hours ahead of President-elect Trump's meeting with Senate Republicans. The incident occurred around 2 p.m. when officers conducting security screenings noticed the weapon in the suspect's bag, prompting them to halt the X-ray machine and secure the area.
The man, identified as 44-year-old Mel J. Horne of Washington, was found to be in possession of several knives in addition to the machete. As a precaution, security checks at the north side of the Capitol Visitor Center were suspended for about an hour while authorities investigated the situation.
Horne now faces multiple charges related to carrying dangerous weapons and will soon be questioned by investigators to uncover his intentions. Authorities have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to Congress, the Capitol, or the general public amidst the incident. Meanwhile, Trump's transition team confirmed that he would indeed be meeting with Senate Republicans on that day, hosted by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, as he prepares for his upcoming term in the Oval Office.
8 Comments
G P Floyd Jr
It’s reassuring to see that security measures are in place, and they worked effectively in this case.
Martin L King
This shows that our security personnel are vigilant and ready to respond to any threat!
Rolihlahla
Are we really in a place where someone feels empowered to bring a machete into our government? It’s unbelievable!
Martin L King
Well done to the officers involved! Better to be cautious than sorry.
ZmeeLove
More evidence that we need to overhaul security regulations. This isn't just about one man; it’s about systemic failure.
KittyKat
It’s encouraging to see security protocols being enforced; it helps restore faith in our government safety measures.
Katchuka
It’s good that they caught it before it escalated. Hats off to the officers for their alertness!
Eugene Alta
We need to support our law enforcement as they protect our Capitol from threats like this.