Recent security lapses at the Capitol have left many to fear whether our leaders are truly safe. Now, however, Congress is investigating.

From Just the News. Congress is investigating two security incidents that allegedly occurred on the days when President Donald Trump made his two most recent speeches at the U.S. Capitol this year, at least one involving a gun and another raising concerns about whether a metal detector was evaded, a House official told Just the News.

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Have you taken your place on the wall?

House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis., disclosed on Monday night that the reported incidents have been referred for investigation to the U.S. Capitol Police Inspector General’s office.

“There are serious allegations as to what you just mentioned, regarding individuals who have attempted or who have brought weapons into the United States Capitol,” Steil told the “Just the News, No Noise” television show. …

Full Transparency

The most recent episode was on March 4 and recorded in a Capitol Police incident report. That report described a gun in a backpack, while the earlier — and as of yet, unproven — episode dating to Trump’s Inauguration Day on Jan. 20 is not in a police file but was recently brought to the attention of congressional leaders by the House sergeant-at-arms, officials said Monday.

Asked whether both incidents involved guns, Steil demurred but promised full transparency when the inquiry is over. …

The gun incident

A Capitol Police report reviewed by Just the News confirms that a suspect tried to enter a House office building on the Capitol campus on March 4 — the day of Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress — when an X-ray machine flagged a possible weapon inside the person’s backpack.

“The Suspect was detained by A/O, while R/O conducted a physical search of the backpack,” the report said. “R/O discovered a handgun with a 15 round capacity magazine loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition. The Suspect was placed under arrest and transported to Headquarters for processing,” the report said.

The report added that police “conducted an inquiry with MPD Gun Registration Unit which revealed the Suspect has an active Concealed Carry License for the District of Columbia, and the firearm has a valid registration.” The suspect was not identified by name.

Officials said lawmakers are still concerned that the suspect was not authorized to enter the Capitol complex with a gun …

The “metal detector incident”

The same officials said Monday that lawmakers also were recently alerted by the House sergeant at arms to an allegation of an earlier security incident in which a woman who entered the Capitol on Inauguration Day allegedly avoided going through a metal detector.

Because that person has ties to law enforcement there is additional concern she may have been carrying a weapon, but officials cautioned there has been no definitive finding yet by the Capitol Police Inspector General. The incident has not been proven to have occurred. …

Chain of security lapses

The inquiry into alleged security lapses at the inaugural address for the incoming president and then his official address to a joint session of Congress comes after major security failures were identified by investigators during the 2024 election surrounding two assassination attempts against Trump. The one in Butler, Pennsylvania, was less than an inch from being fatal and wounded his ear. Another attempt was stopped before it could start in Florida.

After these incidents, the Secret Service has endeavored to ramp up the president’s security in the face of significant threats, including assassination plots from the regime in Iran. …

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(Excerpt from Just the News. Photo Credit: Hector Chifungo | Chieftorious/Getty Images via Canva Teams)