Children's choir silenced while performing the national anthem in US Capitol because 'it might offend someone': Video



An elite children's choir was silenced in the middle of performing "The Star-Spangled Banner" inside the U.S. Capitol after Capitol police reportedly feared that the song could be considered a "protest" and "might offend someone."

On May 26, members of the Rushingbrook Children’s Choir arrived in Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol for a pre-arranged tour. The group, believed to be a Christian choir from South Carolina, were also invited to perform a few patriotic songs in the hall after receiving approval from several of the state's congressional representatives, including Russell Fry, William Timmons, and Joe Wilson — all Republicans.

However, as the choir was about to complete the third verse of the national anthem, a guide suddenly tapped the director on the shoulder and informed him that Capitol police had ordered the kids to stop singing immediately. The incident was captured on video, which has since gone viral on social media:

\u201cRushingbrook Children's Choir were singing the National Anthem in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol when they were interrupted by Capitol police.\n\nA representative from the choir was told that "certain Capitol police said it might offend someone/cause issues."\u201d
— Citizen Free Press (@Citizen Free Press) 1685725642

The children obeyed their director and stopped singing without ever finishing the song, though the audience standing nearby still applauded politely. Matthew Leys, one of the organizers of the event, claimed that Capitol police gave the order because "singing the Anthem could be considered a form of protest."

"Certain Capitol police said it might offend someone/cause issues," added Christina Chapman Heffernan, who first posted the video to Facebook and who is believed to be affiliated with the group. "We respect authority but we should have been allowed to sing because of the multi-level approval we already got from 2 representatives involved: Joe Wilson, and William Timmons."

Others have voiced concerns about the seemingly excessive restrictions placed on law-abiding Americans these days. "When you need a permit to sing your National Anthem in your nation’s Capitol, something’s gone wrong," Leys stated.

Political leaders and other national conservatives have also weighed in on the incident. The official account for the national GOP called it "outrageous," and Rep. George Santos (R-N.Y.) claimed that his office would conduct further investigation into the matter. "If this really happened, I want to ask the @CapitolPolice why are children expressing their First Amendment rights, especially while singing our country's national anthem, is offensive? My office will be looking into this," he tweeted.

Republican state Representative Adam Morgan of South Carolina even hinted that the fear of being "offensive" has caused Americans to lose some of the freedoms they used to take for granted: "The fact that our National Anthem could ever be considered 'offensive' in our nation’s Capital is a stinging reminder of the challenges we face as a Republic."

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Wild fox bites Democrat congressman outside the US Capitol



A Democrat congressman reported being bitten by a wild fox who had been spotted at the U.S. Capitol by several people in recent days.

Rep. Ami Bera of California told Punchbowl News that he was the victim of an "unprovoked" attack by the fox on Monday evening near the Capitol.

“I didn’t see it and all of a sudden I felt something lunge at the back of my leg,” Bera said. “I jumped and got my umbrella."

Bera said that he spun around quickly and shooed the fox away with his umbrella.

“Someone was like ‘hey a fox is attacking that guy,’” he added. “Capitol police came out and then fox ran away. It was the most bizarre day in Congress.”

Bera, who is a medical doctor, didn't initially want to get a rabies shot but he later relented.

"I expect to get attacked if I go on Fox News, I don’t expect to get attacked by a fox," he joked.

A photograph showed the puncture marks on Bera's suit from the fox bite.

UPDATE: Here's an exclusive picture of Bera's suit with the puncture marks from the fox

Bera told me the fox punctured his suit to his sock, but he did not see a wound on his skin.

(Photo courtesy of Bera's office) pic.twitter.com/ln1DdQJ8K1
— Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) April 5, 2022

Various people had been posting photographs of the fox before it went after the Democrat.

Capitol fox currently in lower senate parkpic.twitter.com/YS9LYDtCQ3
— Bill Clark (@Bill Clark) 1649181366
Spotted outside the Capitol: a red fox. I was sitting at a gazebo outside the Russell Senate Office building when this little one came trotting up. Then galloped after a squirrelpic.twitter.com/xrX4sMi9XU
— Michael Macagnone (@Michael Macagnone) 1649100750

On Tuesday, the Capitol Police warned people to stay away from fox after they had received several reports of "aggressive encounters" with the animal.

"For your safety, please do not approach any foxes," they tweeted. "Animal Control Officers are working to trap and relocate any foxes they find." The next day, the police tweeted that animal control had caught the animal.

#BREAKING: Captured. pic.twitter.com/LJAn2ZjH9J
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) April 5, 2022


Bera, who is a doctor, tweeted that he was in good shape.

"Happy to report that I am healthy and back at work serving the people of #CA07," he wrote.

Here's more about the Capitol fox attacks:

Fox caught on Capitol grounds after reports of attackswww.youtube.com

BREAKING: Capitol Hill evacuated as police investigate suspicious vehicle, 'active bomb threat'



U.S. Capitol Police on Thursday announced an "active bomb threat" investigation near the Library of Congress, according to the Associated Press, prompting nearby Capitol Hill buildings including the Cannon House Office Building to be evacuated.

What are the details?

Police on Thursday morning announced that officers were responding to reports of a suspicious vehicle near the Library of Congress and urged all people to stay away from the area.

The news agency reported that police said there is a possibility of explosives inside the vehicle.

In a tweet, the U.S. Capitol Police said, "MEDIA ALERT: This is an active bomb threat investigation. The staging area for journalists covering this situation is at Constitution and First Street, NW, for your safety. Please continue to avoid the area around the Library of Congress."

"This is an ongoing investigation," the department added. "We are monitoring this situation closely and will update this account as we get information we can release."

MEDIA ALERT: This is an active bomb threat investigation. The staging area for journalists covering this situation… https://t.co/115YV95Ykf

— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) 1629383242.0

What else?

According to WTTG-TV, Capitol Police told the Associated Press that "investigators on the scene were working to determine whether the device was an operable explosive and whether the man in the truck was holding a detonator."

The officials, according to the station, were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter.

The station reports that the following streets have been closed:

  • Independence Ave between 3rd St. SW to 2nd St SE
  • Constitution Ave between 3rd St. NW and 2nd St. NE
  • East Capitol NE between 1st St NE and 2nd St SE


This is a developing story and will be updated as events warrant.

House passes bill to create commission to investigate Capitol riot, with 35 Republicans joining Dems



The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday evening to set up a bipartisan 9/11-style commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters, with dozens of Republicans breaking with their leadership by voting in favor of the measure.

What are the details?

In a 252 to 175 vote, the Democrat-controlled House passed the bill, with 35 GOP members voting "yes" despite Republican leadership urging them to vote against it, CNN reported. No Democrats voted against it.

All ten of the Republicans who voted for impeaching former President Donald Trump for allegedly inciting the riot voted in favor of setting up the commission, and they were joined by another 25 GOP members — 14 of whom are members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, according to CBS News.

The day before, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) expressed his opposition to the deal, arguing that there are already "ongoing bipartisan investigations into all facets of the January 6 events" in the Senate.

Both McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) initially said Trump bore some responsibility for the attack on the Capitol despite voting against impeachment. In recent days, both came out against forming the commission.

The legislation now heads to the Senate where it faces "an uphill climb to 60 votes to defeat a filibuster" given McConnell's opposition, NBC News reported.

What else?

Ahead of the vote on Wednesday, a letter was released on U.S. Capitol Police letterhead condemning McCarthy and McConnell for opposing the commission, wherein unnamed officers from the force purportedly wrote:

It is inconceivable that some of the Members we protect, would downplay the events of January 6th. Member safety was dependent upon the heroic actions of the USCP. It is a privileged assumption for Members to have the point of view that 'It wasn't that bad.' That privilege exists because the brave men and women of the USCP protected you, the Members."

But the USCP quickly issued a statement saying that the letter "is NOT an official USCP statement," reiterating that the department "has no way of confirming it was even authored by USCP personnel" and that they do "NOT take positions on legislation."

USCP does NOT take positions on legislation. https://t.co/LSu38jbIqd
— U.S. Capitol Police (@CapitolPolice) 1621459391.0

The communications director for South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace (R) accused Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.) of being behind the unsigned letter on USCP letterhead.

The aide tweeted, "Blasting out an anonymous statement on official Capitol Police letterhead condemning one party to Hill staff and reporters is atrociously manipulative. Raskin and his office should be ashamed."

Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton promoted the unendorsed letter, too.

It's worth reading this letter from members of the Capitol Police in full. They deserve answers on the events of Ja… https://t.co/8yoxi4AfVo
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) 1621459808.0

US Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman hailed as hero for bravely standing up to rioters



A U.S. Capitol Police officer is being hailed as a hero for valiantly standing up to an angry mob of rioters during the storming of the Capitol and leading them away from U.S. senators.

Officer Eugene Goodman singlehandedly faced down several rioters last Wednesday on the second floor of the Capitol. In a video posted to social media, Goodman can be seen confronting a mob of Trump supporters in a stairwell, and then baiting them to follow him up the stairwell and through several hallways. He leads them to a room where several other police officers back him up and confront the rioters.

Eugene Goodman deserves the Medal of Valor! He could have stepped aside and let Trump insurgents get to the Senate… https://t.co/HgrFZngKuo
— Ben Crump (@Ben Crump)1610324608.0

But what wasn't immediately apparent is how his actions may have saved the lives of several U.S. senators.

In the video taken by HuffPost reporter Igor Bobic, there's a point at which Goodman reaches the top of the stairs and backs into a hallway as the rioters approach him from the staircase. He looks to his left, where between two chairs is a doorway that leads to the entrance of the Senate floor.

At the time, the Senate was still in session. Debate was occurring over whether the Senate would accept the Electoral College results from Arizona when members of the Secret Service escorted Vice President Mike Pence from the chamber. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) was interrupted in the middle of a speech as senators were forced to evacuate the premises to escape the mob.

This @NYTimes photo of @CapitolPolice Officer Eugene Goodman facing down a mob by himself is breathtaking... https://t.co/vBEYJerd5V
— Andrew Feinberg (@Andrew Feinberg)1610311370.0

Just outside, Officer Goodman was confronting the rioters. When he saw that they were quickly approaching the Senate floor, he shoved the leader of the crowd to gain his attention. After the rioters' attention was focused on Goodman, he led them down the hall, away from the Senate chamber, giving lawmakers time to escape.

This moment in ⁦@igorbobic⁩ stunning footage. In front of the officer, coming up the stairs, is a mass of rioters.… https://t.co/x4TQWdiK5F
— Kristin Wilson (@Kristin Wilson)1610291696.0

The leader of the rioters, seen wearing a QAnon T-shirt, was identified as Doug Jensen of Iowa. After the events at the Capitol, he was arrested by local authorities and the FBI and faces federal charges.

Goodman, an Iraqi War veteran, is winning praise as a hero for his bravery.

"Last Wednesday, I was inside the Senate chamber when Officer Eugene Goodman led an angry mob away from it at great personal risk," Sen. Bob Casey (D-Penn.) tweeted. "His quick thinking and decisive action that day likely saved lives, and we owe him a debt of gratitude."

Last Wednesday, I was inside the Senate chamber when Officer Eugene Goodman led an angry mob away from it at great… https://t.co/jNTtI13QXs
— Senator Bob Casey (@Senator Bob Casey)1610382588.0