GOP Rep Calls For ‘Overwhelming Force’ Against White House Intruders

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee member Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah., gestures as he speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, during the committee's hearing to investigate the ext... House Oversight and Government Reform Committee member Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah., gestures as he speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, during the committee's hearing to investigate the extra scrutiny IRS gave to Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) MORE LESS
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Rep. Jason Chaffetz wants the Secret Service to use “overwhelming force” against White House intruders.

The Utah Republican grilled Secret Service Director Julia Pierson at a House Oversight Committee hearing on Tuesday, one day after the Washington Post broke the news that fence-jumper Omar Gonzalez penetrated deeper than previously known into the White House building, overpowering a Secret Service agent while carrying a knife.

Chaffetz asked when Secret Service agents are permitted to use “lethal force,” to which Pierson responded that it’s “always true” that officers have that authority “as appropriate within the confines of the law.” He asked how an officer would know if a possible White House intruder has an explosive, and whether they should “assume” the person has ill intentions.

“I think it’s confusing,” Chaffetz said. “This is part of what they have to deal with. They make a split-second decision. I want it to be crystal clear, you make a run and a dash for the White House, we’re gonna take you down. I want overwhelming force. Would you disagree with me?”

Pierson responded, “I do want our officers and agents to execute appropriate force for anyone attempting to challenge or breach the White House.”

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) took issue with Chaffetz’s remarks, accusing him of calling for any fence-crosser to be “shot on sight.”

“I am reluctant to join him in that kind of advice to the Secret Service because there is a first family at the White House,” the Democrat said. “There are guests in the White House. It is a busy and bustling place, and the idea that we are going to have a shootout on the White House grounds seems to me to be a last resort, not a first resort, and I’m not sure members of Congress ought to be in the business of actually spelling out Secret Service protocols for you.”

Chaffetz, a senior Republican on the committee, is vying to become its chairman next year as Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) is term-limited out.

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Notable Replies

  1. Avatar for mldb mldb says:

    Give the guy a break. He just wants to kick some ass because that’s the 'Merican way

  2. This committee seems to have more than its fair share of drama queens

  3. Avatar for fitley fitley says:

    Well to be fair the intruder didn’t try to grab an agent’s gun, like every single Black man, woman or child ever killed by a cop, seems to do. Or at least the cops SAY they do.

  4. This so-called lawmaker needs to step down immediately. He clearly has no comprehension of what the Constitution says or means. He has no interest in our legal system or process.

    Therefore, he has no business pretending to be a lawmaker.

    And set aside the fact that it would be totally unfair to the secret service agents to execute people on the white house lawn for jumping a fence. Can you imagine? Most of these people have serious mental health issues and should not be executed.

  5. This is the same clown who voted to cut embassy funding for the Benghazi consulate. Another talk out of both sides of his mouth politician.

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