Politics

Florida GOP Rep Slams DHS For Lowering Orlando’s Terrorism Threat Level

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Juliegrace Brufke Capitol Hill Reporter
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Republican Rep. John Mica of Florida said the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to lower Orlando’s terrorism threat level years ago was a mistake, following a members-only briefing Tuesday on the massacre at a gay Orlando nightclub that left 50 dead Sunday.

“I’m disappointed that DHS had a terrible miscalculation two years ago, they took Orlando off the threat list, or lowered its standing, so it disqualified it for any funding for the last couple of years for terrorist assistance,” Mica told The Daily Caller News Foundation.

Mica has called for an oversight investigation into the terror attack, in his capacity as a member of the House Committee on Oversight.

“I mean there is nothing you can do now, funding it now doesn’t matter – we’ve already been the victim of the worst terrorist attack since 9/11,” he told TheDCNF. “Everyone realizes the dots were not connected.”

He said lawmakers made repeated appeals, provided documentation and emphasized the danger of soft targets being hit – yet no action was taken by DHS.

“It’s obvious, the guy went to Disney, that’s harder target, but in the community there were softer targets and he chose the Pulse Club,” he said. “It’s very hard to explain to grieving families and the community how the government can fail them.”

Republican Rep. David Jolly of Florida emphasized the importance of both parties working together to stop domestic acts of terrorism, adding the first topic that came up in the meeting was on gun control.

“We’ve lived through this as a country for 20 years, the partisan solutions aren’t working – this is a week that we are one nation mourning together,” he told reporters following the briefing. “And if we can’t arrive at a consensus as Americans together and reject the Democrat – Republican divide we all lose. Listen, a tribute to law enforcement. They were doing the best they could in this case – this was someone intent on being a terrorist and unfortunately he achieved it.”

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