A former second-in-command for the Secret Service in Chicago tells the I-Team we are living in a threat environment we haven't seen in years. That threat level prompted Congress to expand funding to protect the lives of lawmakers and their families. A Chicago firm and other private companies have been hired to supplement security.
"The multi-layered approach, 100% absolutely worked. The shooter was not even on the same level as the banquet hall," said Derek Mayer, ABC7 law enforcement expert and former deputy special agent in charge at the Chicago Secret Service Field Office.
He says the attack at the White House correspondents' dinner exemplifies the current political threat environment, along with a flurry of assassinations and attempts over the last few years.
"You had Butler. Then you had the United Healthcare assassination. You had the Charlie Kirk assassination. So, I think that the heightened security is at an all-time high," Mayer told the I-Team.
He says threats against federal and local lawmakers have become commonplace, which is why Congress, with bipartisan support, expanded federal funding for lawmaker security, working with private security firms like Chicago-based P4 to augment protection from U.S. Capitol Police while lawmakers are not on Capitol Hill.
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"We're looking at every threat being taken very seriously," said P4 Securities President Steve Vitale.
He tells the I-Team, while P4 teams do not work directly with Capitol police, their personal protective personnel are trained to operate inside the federal security structure.
"It's pretty novel, but we've seen the landscape of risks change dramatically over the last few years," said Vitale. "When they're in their home state, Capitol police can't be everywhere, so they work with agencies like ours to help supplement some of that executive protection."
Members of the House now have $240,000 to spend on private personal security for themselves or their families or for security enhancements to their homes or offices.
The I-Team has learned local members of Congress are utilizing those funds. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has been seen with private security accompanying him.
Congressman Mike Quigley and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez also confirmed their use of the new security funding. Quigley told the I-Team in a statement he has used it occasionally for public events. Ramirez said through a spokesperson she uses private security while in her district in the face of multiple threats.
"It's very difficult to do your job and speak to constituents when you know that there is a threat possibly that could affect your life," said Vitale.
Individual senators are now allotted $750,000 per year for the same protective services, including personal protection and security upgrades for their homes and offices.
"The Sergeant at Arms takes this very seriously. The federal government takes it very seriously. These threats are real," said Vitale.
P4 says new contracts with the federal government account for about 10% to 15% of their business, and they are one of only a few firms vetted to do this work nationwide.