Washington, DC’s lone congressman on Saturday pleaded with the Capitol Police to ease security measures as the nation’s capital braces for what could be one of the biggest snowstorms in years.
“The west side of the Capitol is known as arguably the best place to sledge in the high-density urban environment,” Democratic Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton said in a statement to federal law enforcement.
The Washington Congressman reminded Capitol Police that she has a provision in the Legislative Department Credits Act that allows her to direct the sledding through the Capitol as she sees fit.
The U.S. Capitol has undergone tightening security measures by pro-Trump supporters since the Jan. 6 attack on the building, resulting in the deaths of five people, including a police officer. Two other police officers later committed suicide.
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Security officials called for 25,000 National Guardsmen to be stationed in the Capitol during President Biden’s inauguration, leaving thousands of troops behind in the weeks since.
But the congressman tried to appeal to the Capitol Police, asking that children who have “lived through an extraordinarily challenging year” with not only the coronavirus, but also the recent riots that have “militarized” their neighborhood, to authorize it. US Capitol Grounds. .
“This could be the only blizzard DC will get this winter, and arguably one of the best for sledding in years,” Norton said. “Children and their parents should be able to enjoy sledding on one of the best hills in the city.”
About 7,000 National Guardsmen have remained in the Capitol as security officials continued to worry about possible civil unrest as the Senate impeachment process against President Trump begins in February.
But Norton suggested they could take safe measures by only allowing children and adults with children to enter the ground on the west side of the Capitol.
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“Sledding is a simple childhood sensation. It’s the least we can allow for our resilient children this winter season,” the congressman said Saturday.
A National Guard spokesman told Fox News Saturday night that “Unfortunately, due to the current security position, COVID-19 restrictions and the deconstruction of the inaugural platform, we cannot currently allow luge on the Capitol.”
“However, we look forward to welcoming sleders again in the future,” she added.
Mike Emanuel contributed to this report.