Police Keep Senators, Staff in Quarantine

Rollcall.com
Feb. 09, 2006

Feb. 8 - Capitol Police are continuing to keep an unknown number of staffers and Senators segregated in the Legislative Garage after they were evacuated from the Russell Building following an initial positive test for a potential nerve agent.

At a press briefing outside Russell, Sgt. Kimberly Schneider, spokeswoman for the Capitol Police, said she was unable to provide a timeline for when officials would be able to clarify the situation, and added that the quarantined Senators and aides were “being briefed on the situation and also being cared for.”

“We are extremely concerned about keeping our Capitol community safe,” said Schneider.

In an e-mail update, the Capitol Police said a hazardous material unit “has entered the area to take a physical sample for further analysis.”

Initial reports indicated that Senators in the garage area included Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) and John Thune (R-S.D.). There are no indications that anyone in Russell displayed any symptoms of exposure.