Leaders in D.C. mock Dayton

The District’s Democratic leaders yesterday ridiculed Sen. Mark Dayton’s decision to close his Capitol Hill office until after the Nov. 2 election because of terrorism fears.

“I’m just literally scratching my head,” D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams said in response to Mr. Dayton’s Tuesday announcement. “I’m trying to figure out what frequency the senator is on.”

Calling the Minnesota Democrat’s decision a “very strange aberration,” the mayor said that Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and others concur that there isn’t any new information to prompt Mr. Dayton’s statement about “an unacceptably great risk to safety” prior to Election Day.

Republicans accused Mr. Dayton of “caving in” to terrorists, while Democratic congressional leaders had no comment yesterday. Mrs. Norton accused Mr. Dayton of fear-mongering.

The senator’s decision to close his office in the Russell Senate Office Building leaves an “unmistakable impression that security at the Capitol is so inadequate that self-help by members [of Congress] is necessary and that others should stay away,” Mrs. Norton said in a statement yesterday.

“We have an obligation to avoid creating an atmosphere of fear among residents and visitors,” the District’s Democratic delegate said.

Mr. Dayton, who has been an outspoken critic of the Bush administration for failing to prevent the September 11 terrorist attacks, closed his Capitol Hill office on Tuesday citing confidential security threats he could not disclose.

“I do so out of extreme, but necessary, precaution to protect the lives and safety of my Senate staff and my Minnesota constituents, who might otherwise visit my office in the next few weeks,” Mr. Dayton said in a statement that referred to a top-secret report on national security Mr. Frist presented to him and other lawmakers.

“I feel compelled to [close the office], because I will not be here in Washington to share in what I consider to be an unacceptably great risk to safety,” Mr. Dayton said.

Mr. Frist, Tennessee Republican, said there “has been no new information over the last five to six weeks” to cause alarm and said that the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms and the U.S. Capitol Police are taking all necessary precautions to make the sprawling Capitol complex safe for legislators, staffers and visitors.

“There is no new information since the first information came in August,” Frist spokeswoman Amy Call said yesterday. “At that time, we made some decisions to increase security precautions.”

The elevated security situation around the Capitol has included more officers on duty and around-the-clock roadblocks on every street leading to the Capitol complex, which includes the main Capitol building, surrounding office buildings and the Library of Congress.

Two Minnesota Republicans in Congress were critical of Mr. Dayton’s decision to close his D.C. office.

While Washington is “currently on a heightened state of alert,” Rep. Mark Kennedy said, he has not been given any information during “recent classified briefings” that warrants closing his office here.

Mr. Kennedy, a Republican who is expected to challenge Mr. Dayton in his 2006 Senate re-election bid, also said people should freely visit Washington for business or pleasure.

“The congressman believes very strongly that we cannot let the terrorists win by caving in to their threats,” said Pat Shortridge, Mr. Kennedy’s chief of staff. “We must remain open for business.”

Sen. Norm Coleman, Minnesota Republican, is not closing his office.

“This is the wrong message to send to the American people,” Mr. Coleman’s chief of staff Erich Mische said of Mr. Dayton’s decision. “This is the wrong message to send to the terrorists. You do not abandon your post as a member of the United States Senate, when there is no evidence of an imminent or impending threat. It sends the wrong message that we are caving in to those who mean to do us harm.”

A spokeswoman for Mr. Dayton said the senator is not surprised by the criticism.

“Senator Dayton accepts that and stands by his decision,” said Chris Lisi, Mr. Dayton’s communications director. “His number one concern is the safety and security of his staff.”

As for complaints about Mr. Dayton not sharing the details of the report that prompted his decision, Ms. Lisi said, “This is a classified report. I don’t even know the contents of it.”

Ultimately, Mr. Dayton’s feeling is that officials should “let folks read the report and make their own decisions.”

In addition to mocking responses from city leaders and congressmen, Mr. Dayton’s decision was greeted with outrage yesterday from D.C. residents, including hot dog vendor Imam Lete.

“I think he’s selfish,” said Miss Lete, 49, at her hot dog cart on C Street NW near Capitol Hill. “He’s rich, he can afford to stay home. If I stayed home, I wouldn’t eat. I’d be broke and I’d be homeless.”

Pennsylvania tourist John Flint, 36, accused Mr. Dayton of “cowardice.”

“You can vote to send our young men and women to fight and die in Iraq, and you can’t even stay in the Capitol? It’s disgraceful,” said the Lancaster, Pa., resident. “You have some of the best-trained officers in the world, and he just cuts and runs.”

Miss Lete said terrorist fears would not move her from the same spot where she’s had her hot dog cart for 17 years.

“I look up in the sky and I know there’s a God above. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. I’m not moving.”

• Jon Ward and Gary Emerling contributed to this report.