After last Jan. 6’s riots in the Capitol building, authorities have warned that the upcoming impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump may spark more violence.
Capitol Police officials are encouraging members of Congress to buy bulletproof vests in anticipation of violence in the future. The House went as far as to issue a memo telling members that they could expense the purchase of bulletproof vests.
Metal detectors have been placed outside every entrance to the House and Senate floors. Every member of Congress, staff and the press are required to walk through the detector before entering the floor.
Members of Congress are already not allowed to bring firearms onto the House or Senate floor, but members of the 2nd Amendment Caucus and other gun activists have been defiant of metal detectors and the Capitol Police orders.
The Army National Guard has deployed a record-high number of soldiers to D.C. during the inauguration and thousands have remained to guard Congress during the impeachment trial.
