Wasserman Schultz Threatens Capital Police With ‘Consequences’ Unless They Return Equipment

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D., Fla.) told the U.S. Capitol Police chief in a bizarre and contentious exchange that there would be "consequences" if he did not return equipment that belonged to a staffer.

"I'd like to know how Capitol Police handle equipment that belongs to a member or a staffer that's been lost within the Capitol complex and found or recovered by one of your officers," Wasserman Schultz said during a Thursday subcommittee hearing on the Capitol Police budget.

Chief Matthew R. Verderosa said the equipment would be processed, and that "generally" it would be returned once ownership was established. "If it's part of an ongoing case, then there are other things that have to occur for that to happen," he noted.

"I think you're violating the rules when you conduct your business that way," she said, "and should expect that there would be consequences."

A police source told the Daily Caller that the "equipment" alluded to was actually a laptop belonging to Wasserman Schultz, stolen by an employee and stashed in a House office building.

Politico reported in March that the staffer in question, Imran Awan, was one of five Democratic House staffers under investigation for "stealing equipment from members’ offices without their knowledge and committing serious, potentially illegal, violations on the House IT network." Two weeks later, Fox News reported that Awan was still employed by Wasserman Schultz. Awan has since left the country for Pakistan.

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[One might wonder what is on that laptop that would create such angst.. --Editor]