Shaken US Capitol on High Alert for Biden’s First Address To Congress

President Joe Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday will take place in a U.S. Capitol on high alert, with memories fresh of the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the building by supporters of his…

ReutersApr 27, 20213 min read

‘THE FENCE IS EVERYWHERE’

The howl of leaf blowers mingled with the roar of heavy machinery this week around the fenced-in Capitol as ground staff cleared withered leaves and construction crews worked on renovating a fountain at the foot of the complex.

Steel barriers lined sidewalks, glinting in the sun. Ambulances sat before the House of Representatives.

Gena Whalon was among the smattering of out-of-town visitors taking selfies outside. She reflected on the insurrection and the U.S. Capitol Police’s failure to prevent Trump supporters from breaching the building.

“If all those people were Black, they would have fired tear gas,” said Whalon, an African American from Austin, Texas.

“The fence is everywhere,” she said, standing outside it. “It’s completely understandable because of the dangers of the protesters. It does suck though because the fence prevents you from taking good pictures.”

The Capitol Police said on Monday they had taken into custody a 22-year-old man who scaled the fence late on Sunday.

Congress is only just starting to grapple with the aftermath of the violence.

Michael Bolton, the Capitol Police inspector general, appeared before a House committee earlier this month to present findings of “deficiencies” within the unit that handles public disturbances and poor coordination and training in its intelligence unit.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is working to secure Republican backing for a bipartisan commission that would investigate the riot.

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Scott Malone and Peter Cooney)