According to a Thursday, January 18 Politico report, US Capitol Police (USCP) saw a surge of “concerning statements and direct threats” towards lawmakers in 2023 — “regardless of political party” — in 2023. Per the report, the Capitol police force probed more than “8,000 threat assessment cases” last year — “an increase of more than 500 from 2022 and a potential harbinger of a spike in 2024.” Politico notes according to a press release issued by USCP Assistant Chief of Protective and Intelligence Operations Ashan M. Benedict, “Threat assessment cases typically surge in election years.” POLL: S…