THE US Capitol police are cracking down on security after a suicidal man breezed through security with a loaded handgun and went on a tour.
Police officers are being more cautious and thorough when screening tourists following an incident where an armed individual, James Faber, was able to enter Congress undetected. Faber managed to walk into the building carrying a deadly weapon hidden in his waistband, even though security alarms were triggered.
Reportedly, on Friday, any tourist who triggered the metal detector at the entrance of the Senate office building in Washington, DC, underwent a comprehensive pat-down procedure. This increased scrutiny is a response to Faber’s breach, which exposed a significant security lapse.
The Capitol Police Department disclosed that Faber, 27, was able to enter the building despite security alarms being activated by his weapon. This security loophole has prompted authorities to tighten security measures, particularly regarding screening procedures for visitors.
Now-terrifying surveillance footage showed the criminal being half-heartedly searched by security after setting off the metal detector before he was allowed into the building.
Faber had driven from his home in Ohio to visit the Capitol, and he appeared to be in the midst of a mental health crisis as he spoke of suicide online.
With his gun in tow, he got a full view of Congress and likely brushed shoulders with key lawmakers before completing his visit and heading to his car outside.
At about 2:15, he walked from the Library of Congress to the parking lot and was finally stopped by Capitol police.
The officer who searched Faber has been suspended, and the police force is enforcing a department-wide security training.
Cops said there wasn’t any indication that Faber came to the building to harm Congress.
He’s been charged with carrying a pistol without a license, possession of an unregistered firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, and resisting arrest.
PROTESTERS RELEASED
The Capitol has been abuzz since President Donald Trump took office as he pardoned rioters who stormed the building on January 6, 2021.
Trump issued an order that released more than 1,500 people who were charged with crimes stemming from the deadly protest.
This came after the president voiced his intentions to forgive protesters who were charged with non-violent crimes.
“I think they’ve been greatly punished,” he said of the non-violent offenders after he won the election.
But not everyone was forgiven for the attack. On Friday, a federal district judge banned eight defendants from returning to Washington, DC.
Meanwhile, prosecutors are moving to dismiss their case against Trump relating to the riots.
TikTok, gender debate & JFK truth – the rest of Trump’s to-do list
BY Ellie Doughty, Foreign News Reporter
JFK ASSASSINATION
Trump promised to uncover a slew of classified documents on the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, Senator Robert Kennedy and Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King.
During his first term Trump did release some documents related to the fatal shooting of JFK in Dallas, Texas, 1963.
King and Robert Kennedy were both assassinated in 1968.
“In the coming days, we are going to make public remaining records related to the assassinations of President John F Kennedy, his brother Robert Kennedy, as well as Dr Martin Luther King Jr and other topics of great public interest,” he said the day before his Inauguration.
Trump has not specified what kind of documents he hopes to release, but the JFK assassination in particular has been a long-term source of debate in the US.
A widespread conspiracy theory has suggested the involvement of the federal government or CIA in orchestrating and covering up his death.
TIKTOK BAN
Trump has hit repeatedly hit out at the plans to ban TikTok in the US – a wildly popular social media app with some 170million American users.
After national security concerns tied to its Chinese ownership, the app was briefly shut down across the country.
But mere hours after Trump promised to reinstate it after taking office, American users were able to get back online.
The app “welcomed back” American yesterday, lauding Trump as the reason for its return even before his official return to the Oval Office.
He then extended a 90-day period to keep it running.
GENDER DEBATE
Trump has previously vowed to reinstate a ban on transgender military service – something he brought in during his first term which Biden later axed.
He said at a rally in December: “With the stroke of my pen, on day one, we’re going to stop the transgender lunacy.”
He is also expected to ban transgender women from competing in women’s sports, saying: “And I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military and out of our elementary schools and middle schools and high school.
“And we will keep men out of women’s sports. And that will likewise be done on Day One.”
CLIMATE CRUNCH
Trump has also promised to look at cost of living efforts and visit Los Angeles in the wake of recent devastating wildfires.
And he is expected to overturn President Biden’s climate policies – including on the regulation of pollution or green job efforts.
It could also stretch to a ban on new wind projects or electric vehicle mandates.
He has already pulled out of the Paris Climate Agreement – just as he did in 2017, before Biden rejoined in 2021.
TRUMP’S FIRST DAYS
Trump has already deported over 500 illegal immigrants from the US since he stepped back into the White House.
Some of these kicked out of the country include gangsters, child sexual abusers, and criminals who the president has described as terrorists.
Trump is bolstering security at America’s borders as the crackdown begins.
“We’re concentrating on the worst first, the public safety threats and national security threats,” Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said.
“And just yesterday, in the last 24 hours, ICE arrested over 308 […] serious criminals.”
