After attempted insurrection of Capitol Building, bill would require uniformed Capitol Police wear body cameras while on duty
Most federal law enforcement have not adopted the practice, even though many state and local law enforcement have.
Context
A mob of domestic terrorists attempted to seize the Capitol Building on January 6, resulting in five deaths. While more than half of state and local police currently wear body cameras, a percentage continually rising by the year, most federal law enforcement do not. The U.S. Capitol Police are not required to wear body cameras.
While most federal law enforcement bodies are controlled by either the Department of Justice or Homeland Security, the U.S. Capitol Police and its 2,300 officers are controlled by Congress itself.
While some videos indeed emerged from the attack, that was largely because so many journalists were there for the momentous occasion, as Congress was scheduled to certify the Electoral College count for Joe Biden’s presidential victory that afternoon. Even the comedy program The Daily Show captured original footage for a segment that later went viral. In almost any other less significant circumstance, absent U.S. Capitol Police body cameras, far less visual evidence would likely have emerged.
What the bill does
A new bill would mandate that uniformed U.S. Capitol Police officers wear body cameras while on duty. Since the bill only applies to uniformed officers, it wouldn’t cover plain-clothed officers, like the as-yet-unidentified one who video shows killed one of the attempted insurrectionists.
It was introduced in the House on January 12 as bill number H.R. 284, by Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ9). The bill does not appear to have an official title.
What supporters say
Supporters argue that had the bill been in place on January 6, it would have provided a needed level of transparency for the horrific events which transpired.
“For the safety of our Capitol Police officers, the public, and everyone who works in the Capitol complex, it’s imperative that officers utilize body-worn cameras while on duty,” Rep. Stanton said in a press release. “Last week’s armed insurrection against our government and breach of the United States Capitol building stunned the world, and we have a lot to learn about what went wrong. But I’m certain that the investigation — and the process to hold those responsible to account — would be much more thorough if aided by footage from body cameras.”
What opponents say
Opponents counter that the effort could run afoul of privacy concerns in a location as sensitive as the seat of American government.
“I think body cameras can be an effective intelligence mechanism,” former Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) told National Journal, but “you always have to balance privacy with security, and that would be true anytime you’re approving cameras for police or law enforcement or Capitol Police.”
The article, which didn’t itself take a stand on the proposal, noted, “The cameras have the potential to capture moments among the country’s top lawmakers and videotape areas of the Capitol that members of the public and even the press are not allowed to capture on film.”
Other opponents have voiced concerns about body cameras not specifically in the context of U.S. Capitol Police but more generally, such as officers leaving them off or forgetting to turn them on, or holding onto footage until they’re certain they can say it exonerates an officer.
Odds of passage
The bill has attracted nine cosponsors, all Democrats. It awaits a potential vote in the House Administration Committee.
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This article was written by GovTrack Insider staff writer Jesse Rifkin.
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