Who is Lying? Capitol Police to be investigated for targeting Congressman Nehls
“The @CapitolPolice Intelligence Division investigated my office illegally and one of my staffers caught them in the act.”
Chief of Police
Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) revealed that he was the subject of a U.S. Capitol Police investigation in which a USCP officer entered his office and took a photo of private Congressional material protected by the Speech and Debate Clause, Article I Section 6 of the U.S. Constitution. This directly contradicts previous assertions made by Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger that Members of Congress are not subject to criminal investigations.
On November 20, 2021, a USCP officer entered Congressman Nehls’ office after allegedly discovering a door left open. Rather than clearing the office, the officer took photos of confidential material in Congressman Nehls’ legislative office that detailed the introduction of a pro-law enforcement bill that would have ensured body armor quality for law enforcement officers. The photo was passed up to USCP intelligence analysts and a report was filed citing “suspicious writings.” That following Monday, three plain-clothed USCP agents returned to the office, where they questioned a staff member about the contents of the questionably-obtained photo.
“Upon discovering a member of my staff, special agents dressed like construction workers began to question him as to the contents of a photograph taken illegally two days earlier.
“No case investigation was ever initiated or conducted into the Representative or his staff.” That is a bold faced lie, said the Congressman.
You are lying said Chief Manger in a Statement about the Congressman’s Complaint.
This morning a U.S. Representative complained about one of our vigilant officers. Chief Manger stands by his officer.
“The United States Capitol Police 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. The weekend before Thanksgiving, one of our vigilant officers spotted the Congressman’s door was wide open. That Monday, 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.” – U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger
“This goes much deeper than an unethical entry into my office by Capitol police,” said Congressman Nehls. “This is a violation of Members’ right to speech and debate, as well as a 4th amendment violation. Could you imagine leaving your front door open and police officers enter your private home, take pictures of the inside, and then open an investigation based on those pictures?”
Congressman Nehls followed up with multiple calls, letters, and meetings with Chief Manger where the Police Chief stated the report came from concerns that the writings were a “veiled threat” to Congressman Nehls’s life. No attempts were made by USCP to contact Congressman Nehls about the supposed threat.
“After communicating with Chief Manger, it became clear that my office was under investigation and surveillance by USCP. We were the ‘threat.’ If Capitol Police had spent this much time investigating January 6th as they did investigating my private legislative materials, January 6th would not have happened.”
The incident comes after Congressman Nehls was selected by Leader McCarthy to be a member of the January 6th select committee, and has been actively critical towards the Capitol Police leadership’s intelligence failures in the leadup to January 6th and the shooting of Ms. Ashli Babbitt.
Congressman Nehls requested the Capitol Police Inspector General conduct a formal investigation into the incident. The request has been accepted by the Capitol Police IG.
“Capitol Police leadership have put a target on my back, but my work in exposing the security failures on January 6th, the death of Ms. Babbitt, and the sham investigation into the events of January 6th will not be deterred.”