Republican staffer baselessly claims Capitol Police instructed against town halls

Barrett staffer claims Capitol Police instructed against town halls, no evidence of such guidance

by Katherine Dailey, Michigan Advance
November 17, 2025

U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) has been repeatedly criticized for having never hosted an in-person town hall since being elected to Congress in Michigan’s 7th Congressional District last year.

That has drawn additional scrutiny after Barrett’s district director, Keith Lane, said that the U.S. Capitol Police instructed members of Congress not to host those events due to safety concerns, although there is no evidence of such guidance.

In a video posted by Distill Social, Lane says, “Capitol Police, who are in charge of protecting all the members, are advising not to have in-person town halls due to almost double threats against congressional members,” noting that the guidance was given to lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

Barrett’s office did not respond to requests for comment on the nature of this guidance from the Capitol Police, including when the guidance was given and what exactly it entails.

A spokesperson for U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who previously held Barrett’s seat before being elected to the Senate, said that her office was unaware of any new guidelines from the Capitol Police regarding safety at town halls.

U.S. Capitol Police did not respond to questions about whether or not such guidance had been issued, though they were closed for routine business during the federal government shutdown that ended on Wednesday.

Distill Social’s video was posted two days after a surprise appearance from Barrett at the Michigan March for Life rally outside the state Capitol building on Nov. 6, which gathered thousands of people — and had no formal security.

Congressional representatives from Michigan on both sides of the aisle have held in-person town halls this year — in August, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) hosted one in Dowagiac, while Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit) hosted one in Livonia.

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