NRCC campaign prank leads to suspicious package investigation

Capitol Hill police were called to investigate suspicious packages outside the offices of several House Democrats on Thursday after staffers for the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC) delivered “moving boxes” to several lawmakers.

NRCC spokesman Bob Salera confirmed to The Hill that their staffers had placed the boxes at the offices of Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), Conor Lamb (D-Pa.) and others, and said in a statement: “We know House Democrats love investigations, but why are they looking a gift horse in the mouth? These moving boxes will come in handy next November when they’re booted from office for impeaching the president.”

Reporters indicated on Twitter that Capitol Hill police questioned two NRCC staffers on Capitol Hill about the incident, as the boxes were marked “The NRCC” in the sender’s field.

I’m told that Capitol Police is investigating suspicious packages in House office buildings that were dropped off by the NRCC after the impeachment inquiry vote.

Among those who’ve received: Spanberger, Fletcher, Schrier, Lamb

— Sarah Ferris (@sarahnferris) October 31, 2019

it’s two kids, basically they look like interns.

— Alex Thomas (@AlexThomasDC) October 31, 2019

Apparently the NRCC sent some frontline Democrats “moving boxes” after the impeachment vote, but because the boxes looked like suspicious packages, Capitol Police were called to investigate. So that’s neat.

Pic from a source: pic.twitter.com/SJqFFKnaEm

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) October 31, 2019

Capitol Police would not comment on whether any staffers had been questioned, and told The Hill “the incident has been cleared” in a statement.

Republicans have hammered House Democrats over the impeachment inquiry into the president. A resolution, passed by House Democrats to move forward with impeachment proceedings Thursday, received zero Republican votes in its first full House vote, though former GOP Rep. Justin Amash (I-Mich.) voted for the inquiry. The resolution will ensure that impeachment proceedings continue, now in public view.

Republicans argue that the inquiry, which centers around President Trump’s efforts on a phone call to persuade Ukraine’s president to open an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden, a front-runner for the Democratic nomination, is a partisan attack on the president and an attempt to overturn the 2016 election.