The temporary chain link security fence erected around the Capitol after the January 6th domestic terrorist attack will be removed starting Friday and could be completely gone within three days, Politico reports.
The announcement comes six months and one day after thousands of Trump supporters attacked the Capitol to disrupt the certification of the Electoral College vote that deemed Joe Biden won the November 2020 election. Trump and his followers believe the election was fraught with fraud, although they’ve been unable to offer any proof of their claims.
More than 500 people have been arrested due to their actions at the January 6th insurrectionist attack. One police officer died in the immediate aftermath of the attack; two more took their own lives in the days following the attack. Five rioters died, including one shot by a Capitol Police officer as she crawled through a broken window in a barricaded door as she tried to reach the Speaker’s Lobby outside the House chamber.
House Sergeant at Arms William Walker sent a memo to all members of Congress and staff informing them of the fence removal, but also informing them that the fence can be redeployed “expeditiously” if it should be needed in the future.