A House Republican lawmaker is alleging that the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) “illegally” investigated his office in an attempt to “destroy” his character.
On Tuesday, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) tweeted, “The [Capitol Police] Intelligence Division investigated my office illegally and one of my staffers caught them in the act.”
“On November 20th, 2021, Capitol Police entered my office without my knowledge and photographed confidential legislative products protected by the Speech and Debate clause enshrined in the Constitution, Article 1 Section 6,” he continued. “Two days later on Monday November 22, 2021 (Thanksgiving week), three intelligence officers attempted to enter my office while the House was in recess.”
On November 20th, 2021, Capitol Police entered my office without my knowledge and photographed confidential legislative products protected by the Speech and Debate clause enshrined in the Constitution, Article 1 Section 6.
— Congressman Troy E. Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) February 8, 2022
He went on to claim that “special agents dressed like construction workers began to question him as to the contents of a photograph taken illegally two days earlier.”
Nehls suggested that the alleged investigation into his office is politically motivated and that “Capitol Police Leadership” is “maliciously investigating me in an attempt to destroy me and my character.”
“Maybe it is because I have been a vocal critic of [House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)], the [January 6th Committee], and [Capitol Police] leadership about their handling of January 6th, the death of Ashli Babbitt and the subsequent SHAM investigation,” he added.
As Axios reports, USCP Chief Tom Manger “responded to Nehls’ accusations, without using his name, saying that the incident involved a ‘vigilant officer’ who ‘spotted the Congressman’s door was wide open’ over the weekend.”
He explained, “USCP personnel personally followed up with the Congressman’s staff and determined no investigation or further action of any kind was needed. No case investigation was ever initiated or conducted into the Representative or his staff.”
Additionally, Manger said the USCP is “is sworn to protect Members of Congress. If a Member’s office is left open and unsecured, without anyone inside the office, USCP officers are directed to document that and secure the office to ensure nobody can wander in and steal or do anything else nefarious.”
Nehls reportedly asked the Capitol Police inspector general to investigate. The inspector general said he will look into the Congressman’s claims.