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WASHINGTON, D.C. — A threatening email targeting a Washington, DC hotel prompted an emergency response from law enforcement Sunday afternoon. DC Police confirmed the threat but provided limited details about the nature of the email. The JW Marriott Hotel, located on the 1300 block of Pennsylvania Avenue, became the focal point of a security operation as bomb squad crews were deployed to investigate.

Emergency Response and Security Measures

Eyewitnesses reported seeing bomb-sniffing dogs and Secret Service agents moving swiftly through the hotel premises. One witness, Joshua Eakle, described the tense atmosphere outside the building. “There were just bomb-sniffing dogs and Secret Service running around the hotel. Kind of a crazy experience,” said Eakle, who was attending a political summit at the venue. The event, called Principles First, was in progress at the time of the incident. Attendees reported that while the summit area was temporarily cleared, the entire hotel was not evacuated. “The summit was in the basement. They moved everyone upstairs to the lobby,” Eakle explained. “People were just kind of hanging out there above the security entrance.” Eric Chalmers, another attendee, praised the security response. “Very calm, under control. Exactly what you would hope. Everything was under control,” said Chalmers.

Impact on the Political Summit

The summit, according to its website, is an alternative gathering to another major political conference taking place in Maryland over the same weekend. Attendees described it as a meeting place for individuals focused on democracy, the rule of law, and countering authoritarianism. “It’s all folks who care about democracy and preserving the rule of law and that no one is above the rule of law,” Chalmers said. “This is about people who care about the state of our country and the direction it’s going in and we’re trying to do something to push back on it.” Eakle described the summit as a gathering of former Republicans and center-right individuals who oppose Trump and authoritarianism.

“This is a summit of the principled, former Republicans, center-right, that are anti-Trump and anti-authoritarianism,” he said. Some attendees speculated that the bomb threat may have been linked to the event’s speakers. Many prominent figures, including former members of the Trump administration and law enforcement officials who responded to the events of January 6, were scheduled to speak.  “There are January 6 police officers, many former members of Trump’s administration here speaking that have now come out and spoken out against him,” said Eakle. “All of us coming into this knew there was going to be some violence or threats of violence.”

Despite the alarming incident, the event resumed about an hour after the threat was received. Attendees remained steadfast in their commitment to the summit’s purpose, emphasizing the importance of continuing discussions about democracy and the rule of law. DC Police have not disclosed further details about the email threat or any ongoing investigation. Authorities continue to monitor the situation to ensure the safety of all individuals involved. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the heightened tensions surrounding political discourse in the country. Law enforcement agencies remain vigilant in addressing security threats to ensure public safety.