Staff Reports
The U.S. Capitol Police placed the Republican National Committee headquarters on lockdown due to a reported suspicious package near the building on Wednesday morning. The area outside the RNC headquarters near the U.S. Capitol Complex was closed off by police at around 7:45 a.m. Law enforcement indicated that they were investigating a “suspicious substance” and advised Congressional offices to avoid the area. Hazmat teams and a strong police presence were observed at the scene. The headquarters are located at 310 First St. SE.
U.S. Capitol Police have issued an all-clear after placing the Republican National Committee headquarters on lockdown over a reported suspicious package at the building Wednesday morning. https://t.co/j1VkW2uqHR
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 22, 2024
The Capitol Police confirmed that the package contained two vials of blood, and it has been cleared by the Hazardous Incident Response Division. They also stated that the source of the package and its contents will be further investigated. The Washington Examiner reached out to the RNC for comment, and the closed-off area near the Capitol South Metro station was the site of the ongoing situation.
Capitol Police gave the all-clear, and RNC staffers were informed that they would be allowed back into the building. However, as of 9:40 a.m., staff members were still evacuated. The situation is ongoing, and updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
