Anti-Trump Republicans spend up to $50,000 each from their campaign accounts on private security after the Capitol riot and voting to impeach
- 100 days after the riot, Republicans who voted to impeach pay for protection
- The funds are revealed in their campaign disclosures
- Prominent Democrats are also paying for security
- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spent $45,000
- Rep. Liz Cheney spent $50,000, while Mitt Romney spent $44,000
A group of anti-Trump Republicans is paying for their public stance against the former president – in the form of extra security that they are paying for out of their campaign accounts.
Also spending big on security protection are some of the most high-profile Democrats in Congress, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rep. Eric Swalwell of California – a favorite political target of Trump’s.
The lawmakers are using the security to protect themselves and their families in the heated political environment as the nation reached 100 days since the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, although a security presence can also provide an indicator of authority in Washington.
Rep. Liz Cheney, who denounced former President Donald Trump for his role Jan. 6th and voted to impeach him, spent $50,000
It all comes as lawmakers have said they have experienced death threats and other warnings. Authorities opened an investigation in January after a top staffer for Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) said panic buttons were removed from her Capitol office.
Pressley’s disclosure report, reviewed by DailyMail.com, reveals payments to four different security forms – although the total comes out to a relatively modest $4,128 for the last quarter. Most of the payments came after January 6th. Pressley has also obtained additional Capitol Police protection after aides said she received threats.
Topping the list in the GOP column is retiring Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, who backed Trump’s impeachment and who spent nearly $70,000 on security, Punchbowl News reported.
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who was the only Republican to vote to convict Trump during his first impeachment and who did so again after the riot, paid $44,000. Romney has been confronted on airplanes in viral videos by critics.
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who gets Capitol security as the secretary of the Republican Conference, paid $50,000 on security. She, too, is a regular political target of Trump’s, and the president has said he plans to endorse a primary opponent against her.
‘Squad’ member Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY) spent $45,000 for security on a trip
Sen. Mitt Romney spent $44,000 on security
High-profile Democrats and Republicans who backed impeachment forked over campaign funds for security, disclosure reports reveal
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., hired four security firms, according to her disclosure report. Her top aide says special panic buttons that had been installed in her office were no longer there the day of the riot
Rep. Liz Cheney tweeted on the 100 day anniversary of the riot
New York Rep. John Katko, one of ten House Republicans to vote to impeach Trump, disclosed $20,000 in security payments to a firm called 3 Rings Protection.
Among Democrats, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), a ‘squad’ spent $45,000 on security during a single trip to Houston.
And Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who took on a high-profile during the first Trump impeachment when he served as an impeachment manager, spent $44,000 on security. Swalwell appears to have been targeted by a Chinese intelligence operative named Fang Fang, and provided information to the FBI during an investigation several years ago.
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