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Nancy Pelosi calls armed Republican members of Congress 'the enemy within' and accuses them of threatening Democrats as lawmakers demand more cash for security

Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted armed Republican members of Congress as 'the enemy within' the House of Representatives on Thursday as lawmakers asked for additional funds for security amid increasing threats to their safety.

'We will probably need a supplemental for more security for members when the enemy is within the House of Representatives,' she conceded at her press conference on Capitol Hill Thursday.

Asked to specific who she meant by the enemy within, Pelosi forcefully responded:  'It means that we have members of Congress who want to bring guns onto the floor and have threatened violence on other members of Congress.'

She was referencing GOP Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who, before she was a member of Congress, liked Facebook posts that expressed support for executing top Democrats, including Pelosi.

The speaker also was referring to several Republican lawmakers who want to carry guns in the Capitol.  

Republican Congressman Andy Harris of Maryland is being investigated for trying to bring a gun onto the House floor last week. Lawmakers are allowed to carry guns in their offices and on the Capitol grounds but they are forbidden from bringing firearms into the House chamber. 

Pelosi set up metal detectors to keep members from bringing weapons - violators face a $5,000 fine. Republicans have objected to the new security measures and have argued they have a right to bear arms. 

But other lawmakers are concerned about colleagues being armed.

It's not just Harris. Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado has been adamant about wanting to carry her gun in the Capitol and GOP Congressman Madison Cawthorn claimed he was armed on the day of the MAGA riot.   

Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted armed Republican members of Congress as 'the enemy within' the House of Representatives

Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted armed Republican members of Congress as 'the enemy within' the House of Representatives

Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado has been adamant about wanting to carry her gun in the CapitolRepublican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado speaks on the House floor

Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado has been adamant about wanting to carry her gun in the Capitol - above, left, Boebert goes through a metal detector outside the House chamber and, right, she speaks on the House floor

Speaker Pelosi installed metal detectors outside the House chamber after the January 6th MAGA riot but some Republicans have complained, arguing they have the right to bear arms

Speaker Pelosi installed metal detectors outside the House chamber after the January 6th MAGA riot but some Republicans have complained, arguing they have the right to bear arms

Several members of Congress wrote to Pelosi and other House leaders on Thursday, asking for the flexibility and funds to hire armed guards and upgrade security measures in their districts as they are terrified of threats against them.

'Reflecting the tense and troubling times we live in, Members of Congress have reported receiving a significant uptick in threats of violence and even death,' states the letter, a copy of which was obtained by DailyMail.com.

The lawmakers ask for greater flexibility to use their taxpayer-funded office expenses for security measures at their homes - which would presumably include items such as bullet proof glass and alarms - in addition for personal guards for the lawmakers when they are in their districts. They also want their addresses kept a secret.

Pelosi expressed sympathy to the lawmakers concerned about their safety but noted: 'Most of the items on their list have already been done. Perhaps they were not aware and I take responsibility for them not being aware.'

She also pledged to look into additional funding, saying 'they shouldn't have to have that money is there for them to meet the needs of their constituents.'

She noted the House Sergeant at Arms would send a letter to members on Thursday outlining security options and that she would meet with retired General Russel Honoré later in the day. Pelosi tasked Honore with reviewing Capitol Hill security procedures in the wake of the riot.

'He is looking at members here and members at home and in between,' she said, adding they want to 'have a scientific approach to help protect members.' 

The two-page letter from the concerned lawmakers argues that the internet makes information about lawmakers' lives much more accessible, including home addresses, photos, personal details about lawmakers' families, and real-time information on lawmaker attendance at events - which puts them at greater risk.

It asks for more funding to their Member Representational Allowance - the taxpayer money lawmakers receive to run their offices - and for greater flexibility on how that money can be spent on security matters, specifically when they are home. 

They point out they have protection at the Capitol but not when they are back in their districts - which is where they spend the majority of their time. 

'While the U.S. Capitol is protected by the United States Capitol Police with the support of strong security measures, including vehicle barriers and metal detectors, most Members spend the majority of their time in their Congressional Districts where security is often sparse,' the lawmakers note.

Specifically they ask for: 

'Protecting Members in their District is much harder because local law enforcement agencies are stretched and limited, and often don't have sufficient staffing or money to provide regular protection to Members. Except for Leadership, Members do not have security details protecting them,' the letter notes. 

The letter was authored by Democratic Representatives Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Dean Phillips of Minnesota. They were joined by 29 other Democrats and one Republican in their request to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, and the chairwoman and ranking member of the House Administration Committee, which oversees the lawmakers' office accounts and spending. 

Several members of Congress wrote to House leadership, asking permission to hire armed guards and upgrade security measures in their districts out of fear of threats

Several members of Congress wrote to House leadership, asking permission to hire armed guards and upgrade security measures in their districts out of fear of threats

Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey led the effort by lawmakers to get increased security in their home districts

Democratic Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey led the effort by lawmakers to get increased security in their home districts

The taxpayer funds allocated to lawmakers to use in their work are strictly governed in terms of how the money can be spent. The rules are outlined in the Members' Handbook and overseen by the Committee on House Administration.

Current rules allow for upgrades to office space in the lawmakers' home district - such as bullet proof glass in the windows and alarm systems. It also allows for armed guards at their district offices and at official events. 

But the lawmakers are asking for that to be expanded to full time security when they are their private homes or just generally out in public, when they may be recognized or targeted.

Security training is a reimbursable expense as are some personal security items. 'The purchase of a bulletproof vest for the Member is a reimbursable expense,' the handbook notes. 

But tensions have increased among lawmakers and staff, who are still suffering the effects of January 6th MAGA riot, where pro-Trump protesters attacked the Capitol, leaving five people dead and a trail of destruction throughout the building.

The rioters interrupted the certification of the presidential election, causing lawmakers to be evacuated from the House and Senate floor. They were held in secure locations in the Capitol complex under the situation was under control.

And the threat hasn't faded.

One House staffer who works for a Republican House member who was against the election certification told Politico their office has received multiple calls from constituents who say the rioters didn't inflict enough damage and that there should've been more people storming the Capitol. 

Additionally, a California man was arrested for sending threatening text messages to the brother of Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York on the day of the riot.

'Your brother is putting your entire family at risk with his lies and other words,' one of the messages read. 'We are armed and nearby your house. You had better have a word with him. We are not far from his either.'

The messages included photos of Jeffries' home in New York. 

Jeffries told MSNBC: 'This is something that unfolded on January 6th, directed at a family member of mine. This individual apparently had secured a phone number, secured an address, made it appear as though they were prepared to proceed violently.' 

Members of Congress have been targeted at home before.

In January 2011, then Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head in an assassination attempt just outside of Tucson during an event with constituents. She resigned from Congress during her recovering and later regained much of her ability to walk, speak, read, and write.

Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York was a target of threatening messages that included photos of his home

Democratic Representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York was a target of threatening messages that included photos of his home

In January 2011, then Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head in an assassination attempt just outside of Tucson; she returned to Congress in January 2012 for the State of the Union address (above) where she received a hug from then-President Barack Obama and a standing ovation from her fellow lawmakers

In January 2011, then Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona was shot in the head in an assassination attempt just outside of Tucson; she returned to Congress in January 2012 for the State of the Union address where she received a hug from then-President Barack Obama and a standing ovation from her fellow lawmakers 

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez revealed she 'had a very close encounter where I thought I was going to die' during the riot

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez revealed she 'had a very close encounter where I thought I was going to die' during the riot 

As part of the investigation into the January 6th riot, one man was arrested for specifically targeting Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York in his social media posts surrounding the event.

'Assassinate AOC,' read one of his posts. 

After the riot, Ocasio-Cortez spoke of the threat she faced in an Instagram Live conversation, saying she 'had a very close encounter where I thought I was going to die.' 

She did not get more specific. She also said she did not shelter with her fellow lawmakers that day as she feared some of them might reveal her location to the rioters. 

'I didn't even feel safe going to that extraction point because there were QAnon and white supremacist members of Congress who I felt would disclose my location and create opportunities to allow me to be hurt,' she said, adding that she 'didn't feel safe around other members of Congress.' 

'It is not an exaggeration to say that many, many members of the House were nearly assassinated,' said Ocasio-Cortez.

'It's just not an exaggeration to say that at all. We were very lucky that things happened within certain minutes. That allowed members to escape the gap, the House floor unharmed.

'But many of us merely narrowly escaped death. And it's also extremely traumatizing,' she noted. 

A subsequent investigation of the January 6th riot revealed how at risk the lawmakers were as several pro-Trump groups launched a coordinate effort to track them down

A subsequent investigation of the January 6th riot revealed how at risk the lawmakers were as several pro-Trump groups launched a coordinate effort to track them down

The MAGA rioters tried to breach the House floor on January 6th were several lawmakers were sheltering as the Capitol was stormed

The MAGA rioters tried to breach the House floor on January 6th were several lawmakers were sheltering as the Capitol was stormed

National Guard units guard the Capitol building but lawmakers say they need more protection when they are back home in their districts

National Guard units guard the Capitol building but lawmakers say they need more protection when they are back home in their districts

A subsequent investigation of the January 6th riot revealed how at risk the lawmakers were as several pro-Trump groups launched a coordinate effort to track them down in the day's chaos. 

Court documents show the rioters on January 6th communicated in real time as they breached the Capitol building. 

The FBI released messages it had obtained in its investigation that showed the rioters were planning to make 'citizens' arrest' of the lawmakers and were tracing their where abouts on that day, including the fact the lawmakers were being taken out of the Capitol via an underground tunnel beneath the complex.

'All legislators are down in the Tunnels 3floors down,' read one message. Another read: 'All members are in the tunnels under capital seal them in. Turn on gas.'

Additional evidence showed members of the far-right Oath Keepers had trained for the incursion and were interested in members of Congress.

Federal investigators recovered recordings made using the Zello cellphone app, which acts like a walkie-talkie, in which the rioters were communicating on January 6th.

'We have a good group,' one said during the riot. 'We have about 30-40 of us. We are sticking together and sticking to the plan.' 

Another said: 'You are executing citizen's arrest. Arrest this assembly; we have probable cause for acts of treason, election fraud.' 

Thus far, the FBI has identified more than 400 suspects in the riot and said more than 150 criminal cases have been filed.

'What were they thinking?' Nancy Pelosi slams Republicans for putting Marjorie Taylor Greene on Education Committee despite 'mocking the killing of little children' 

Speaker Nancy Pelosi lashed out at House GOP leadership for putting QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on the Education committee, pointing to past comments of Greene's in which the Georgia Republican said school shootings were 'staged.' 

'What could they be thinking? Or is thinking too generous a word for what they might be doing. It's absolutely appalling and I think that the focus has to be on the Republican leadership of this House of Representatives for the disregard they have for the death of those children,' Pelosi said Thursday at her weekly press conference. 

Pelosi said top Republicans were willing to 'overlook' Greene's comments 'when she has mocked the killing of little children,' pointing specifically to the massacres at Sandy Hook Elementary and Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went after House GOP leadership for assigning QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to the Education committee after she's previously suggested mass shootings like Parkland and Sandy Hook were 'staged'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went after House GOP leadership for assigning QAnon Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to the Education committee after she's previously suggested mass shootings like Parkland and Sandy Hook were 'staged' 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is under fire for social media posts, including one where she indicates support for executing Pelosi, and for a video that shows her harassing Parkland survivor and gun control activist David Hogg 

David Hogg (front) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (back)Marjorie Taylor Greene

On Wednesday, a video went viral that showed now Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (back left and right) following Parkland survivor and gun control activist David Hogg around Capitol Hill's campus, chiding him for his support of gun control measures 

Children are escorted out of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14 2012 after a mass casualty shooting at the school

Children are escorted out of Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut on December 14 2012 after a mass casualty shooting at the school 

Greene, who was sworn-in earlier this month, was placed on the House Education & Labor Committee over the objection of the Democratic chair of the panel.  

Pelosi had been asked about Greene's social media postings - and what Pelosi would like to see happen to the Georgia lawmaker. 

Since a Tuesday CNN report on Greene's Facebook posts, California Democratic Rep. Jimmy Gomez introduced a resolution to expel Greene from Congress, while other House Democrats have called for her resignation. 

David Hogg, who survived the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, recommended that Greene be stripped of her committee assignments, a step House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy took in 2019 to punish then Rep. Steve King for making racist statements. 

A video went viral Wednesday of Greene following Hogg around Capitol Hill before she was a member of Congress.  

During the 2-minute long video, Greene charges Hogg with 'using kids as a barrier' and taking money from George Soros. Greene asks Hogg why he supported 'red flag laws that attack our Second Amendment.' Greene talked about being armed. 

'If school zones were protected with security guards with guns, there would be no mass shootings, did you know that?' she tells Hogg. 

The video was making the rounds on the heels of a CNN report that said Greene had indicated support on Facebook in 2018 and 2019 for executing top Democrats, including Pelosi.  

Greene had liked a post that said 'a bullet to the head would be quicker' to remove Pelosi from office. 

In an April 2018 post of Greene's on the Iran nuclear deal, Greene responded to a commenter who asked her, 'Now do we get to hang them ?? Meaning H & O???,' the individual asked, referring to former President Barack Obama and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. 

'Stage is being set. Players are being put in place. We must be patient. This must be done perfectly or liberal judges would let them off,' Greene replied.    

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's office initially said in a statement that the House GOP leader would 'have a conversation' with Greene about her 'deeply disturbing' comments, referring to CNN's report on her Facebook posts. 

Greene has previously shown support for the pro-Trump QAnon conspiracy theory, which centers on the ex-president making moves against a Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic, child sex trafficking ring filled with Democratic politicians and prominent liberals. 

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