Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) has lodged a bombshell accusation against the Capitol Police, who he says broke into his office without his knowledge and photographed sensitive documents.
Two days later, three intelligence officers dressed like construction workers ran into a member of Nehls’ staff while trying again during Thanksgiving week to enter the office – questioning the staffer as to the contents of a photograph they illegally took two days earlier.
🚨BREAKING🚨
The @CapitolPolice Intelligence Division investigated my office illegally and one of my staffers caught them in the act.
Thread🧵
— Congressman Troy Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) February 8, 2022
Two days later on Monday November 22, 2021 (Thanksgiving week), three intelligence officers attempted to enter my office while the House was in recess.
— Congressman Troy Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) February 8, 2022
.@CapitolPolice never informed myself or senior level staff of their investigation and the reasons are clear.
— Congressman Troy Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) February 8, 2022
Maybe it is because I have been a vocal critic of @SpeakerPelosi, the @January6thCmte, and @CapitolPolice leadership about their handling of January 6th, the death of Ashli Babbitt and the subsequent SHAM investigation.
— Congressman Troy Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) February 8, 2022
According to The Federalist, “In November 2021, a USCP officer entered the congressional office of Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Tex., and took a photo of a whiteboard in Nehls’ legislative office detailing various legislative plans being considered by Nehls and his staff.”
The officer claimed in a police report several days later that he was conducting routine security patrol on Saturday, Nov. 21, and ‘discovered that one of the doors to Nehls’ office was open.’The report claimed that the officer entered Nehls’ office and found a whiteboard that contained “suspicious writings mentioning body armor[.]” The officer reportedly took a photo of the whiteboard, which was then passed around to analysts within USCP. The following Monday, USCP dispatched three plain-clothed intelligence officers to Nehls’ office and questioned a staffer who was there about the whiteboard and the legislative proposals it contained. -The Federalist
Interestingly, the Washington Post had run a story days earlier about a Texas federal contractor who defrauded the United States by supplying Chinese-made body armor vs. armor made in the US.
The Federalist also reports that the inspector general for the US Capitol Police (USCP) has launched an investigation into whether there has been inappropriate surveillance of elected members of Congress, their staff, and visitors to their officers. The opening of the investigation follows news reports and accusations from lawmakers that USCP has overstepped its bounds as it tries to recover from the January 6 riots that tarnished both the Capitol and the reputation of the law enforcement agency that was supposed to keep it safe.
USCP Chief J. Thomas Manger confirmed the opening of the inspector general investigation in his response to congressional inquiries about USCP police tactics, reported in a January 24 article published by Politico, including surveilling and compiling intelligence dossiers on members of Congress, their staff, and visitors. -The Federalist
“While I am confident in our methods, I am asking the USCP Office of the Inspector General to review the USCP’s programs related to these security assessments to assure both this Committee, the Congress as a whole, and the public that these processes are legal, necessary, and appropriate,” Manger wrote to seven GOP lawmakers.
