Tim Canova

Just days ago, Debbie Wasserman Schultz was caught on video threatening the Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, Matthew R. Verderosa, for doing his job in gathering evidence on the apparent criminal activity of Imran Awan. Awan, who may have already fled to Pakistan with is family, is reportedly Wasserman Schultz’s long-time Information Technology (IT) employee and personal friend. He is suspected of stealing a wide range of computer equipment and data, massive cybersecurity breaches, accessing congressional computers without permission of members of Congress, and funneling sensitive congressional data offsite — all serious felonies, and for what criminal purpose or scheme, one can only imagine. But that’s for the Capitol Police to investigate.

Click here to view the video of Wasserman Schultz threatening the Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police.

In the video, we see Wasserman Schultz insisting that a computer that was confiscated by the Capitol Police from Awan actually belongs to her and therefore must be returned to her. In response, Chief Verderosa politely indicates that ownership of the computer has not been established and that, in any event, it was part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Instead of offering to aid Chief Verderosa’s investigation, Wasserman Schultz is unable to contain her anger, accuses the Chief of violating “the rules” and warns that he “should expect that there will be consequences.”

This video raises disturbing questions: Why was Wasserman Schultz so adamant that this computer be returned to her, rather than inspected by the Capitol Police for evidence of serious criminal activity? Does the computer contain information suggesting that Wasserman Schultz had knowledge of Awan’s criminal activity, or worse?

Tellingly, this exchange occurred during a hearing of the Congressional subcommittee that oversees the budget for the Capitol Police. Wasserman Schultz’s threat of some unnamed “consequences” during such a hearing is a completely unacceptable abuse of her position, apparently to obstruct an ongoing criminal investigation.

Yes, there should be “consequences”: Wasserman Schultz must not be permitted to use her position on the House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee to impede and obstruct a Capitol Police investigation of serious criminal activity by her friend and former IT employee. We must not tolerate any form of obstruction of justice, least of all by Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

Please sign your name here if you agree that Wasserman Schultz must recuse herself from any committee matters dealing with the Capitol Police. We will report these petitions to her House colleagues, demanding they remove Wasserman Schultz from this House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee if she refuses to recuse herself.

Let us be clear, we demand that the U.S. Capitol Police be permitted to conduct a fair investigation of Awan’s criminal activity, free from the threats of Wasserman Schultz and any other present or former politicians.

Thank you for supporting equal justice under the law.