Security officials on Capitol Hill are taking a fresh look at their politics after a Maryland man was arrested on charges of secretly recording Republican senators during a private luncheon earlier this month.
The man, a 25-year-old contract employee who works the lunch counter, is said to have left his phone on recording for several hours before leaving it in the room with the senators. He later returned with a police escort to recover the device, only to find that one of the lawmakers had discovered it and turned it over to police, according to NBC News.
“It’s really concerning,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., told the outlet.
“These talks are an opportunity for senators to speak openly about issues. So having people on the record who are easily identifiable by their voices is problematic,” she added.
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Senate Republicans and Democrats hold weekly luncheons that are supposed to be private affairs.
Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., says she is very concerned about staffers trying to record lawmakers in secret. (Photo by Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
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“It was a temporary person hired by the food service staff. The phone was left in pickup mode, which can be found in the grocery line,” Republican Senate Conference Chairman John Barrasso, R-Wyo, told NBC. “It’s very worrying.”
The charges against the man were later dropped and he was released from custody.
Lawmakers from both parties often use their weekly caucus luncheons to coordinate strategies for upcoming votes. The content of the meetings is occasionally leaked to the media but is usually kept secret.
Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), left, and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) return to the Senate following the Senate Democrats’ weekly policy luncheon in the US Capitol. The party lunches are expected to be private affairs.
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The U.S. Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital about possible security changes at the Capitol complex.
Source : www.foxnews.com