Senator Cites Safety Concerns in Closing Office
NewsMax.com Wires
Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004
WASHINGTON A Democrat senator said Tuesday he was
closing his office because of a top-secret intelligence
report that made him fear for his staff's safety.
Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., said his office in the Russell Senate
Office Building across the street from the Capitol would be closed
while Congress is in recess through Election Day, with his staff
working out of his Minnesota office and in Senate space off Capitol
Hill.
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"I take this step out of extreme, but necessary, precaution to
protect the lives and safety of my Senate staff and my Minnesota
constituents, who might otherwise be visiting my Senate office in
the next three weeks," he said.
Dayton said he could not give details of the intelligence
report, which he said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn.,
presented to senators at a briefing two weeks ago.
Frist's spokesman Bob Stevenson said he was unaware of any other
senators who were closing their offices.
Brian Roehrkasse, a spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, said
the department had no intelligence indicating al-Qaida intended to
target any specific U.S. locations.
Added Capitol police spokesman Michael Lauer: "There's been no
specific threats against the Capitol complex. We continue to be on
guard now, all the way up to the election and all the way through
the inauguration."
Nonetheless, Dayton said he would advise people from his home
state to avoid Capitol Hill until after the Nov. 2 election.
"I would not bring my two sons to the Capitol between now and
the election," he added.
© 2004 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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