Within the Capitol, many lawmakers and assistants are skeptical that the groups could cause real damage, as the site was greatly strengthened following the January 6 uprising. Blade wire fencing still encloses much of the Capitol Hill area, and members and staff must enter through checkpoints manned by National Guard armed troops.
Nevertheless, congressional leaders say they will heed the security warnings, with members still shaken by the violence many of them saw two months ago. Some of the security presence, especially the National Guard, has apparently diminished in recent weeks, although stricter new procedures – such as metal detectors in the living rooms – remain in place.
In a letter to members Wednesday, the House sergeant said Capitol police had received ‘new information and intelligence information’ indicating that a new threat to the Capitol from March 4 to 6 ‘by militis group ‘would be.
Some lawmakers have said they are actually more concerned about being targeted at the airport or traveling to and from their districts than in their Capitol offices. Capitol security officials have indicated they intend to step up the safety of lawmakers in transit, acknowledging that many people have been targeted in recent months when they have left the building.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security released a joint information bulletin to state and local law enforcement on Tuesday night, warning of possible violence at the Capitol on March 4. The document, obtained by POLITICO, said the FBI had learned that a militia group was discussing a plan in late February to persuade “thousands” to travel to Washington on that date and take control of the US Capitol. and remove democratic legislators’.
The bulletin explained that some domestic violent extremists “motivated by the QAnon conspiracy theory” could be mobilized into action because they believe Trump will be inaugurated on March 4 or come to power on May 20 with the help of the US military.
‘Prosecute [domestic violent extremist] “Perceptions of electoral fraud and other conspiracy theories related to the presidential transition could contribute to the mobilization of DVEs with little or no warning of violence,” the document warned. Many Trump supporters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 were directly motivated by Trump’s repeated allegations of a stolen election, and the bulletin said extremists might feel “encouraged” by the successful breach of the building that day. .
Trump reiterated his false claim that the election was stolen Sunday during the speech at the Conservative political action conference, and intelligence officials said during a Senate hearing on Wednesday that the persistence of the false story about the election contributed to their concern about future violence. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) encouraged Trump to call out the extremists who support him directly.
“President Trump has the responsibility to say they have to stand up,” McCaul told CNN.
FBI Director Chris Wray testified earlier this week that the FBI currently has about 2,000 active domestic terrorism cases open, and right-wing extremists are seen as “the most important domestic terrorism threat” facing the country.
Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman also told lawmakers last week about a related threat to the Capitol during the state of the nation address, which has not yet been scheduled. Although she did not describe the basis for the threat, she said it involved ‘militia groups present on January 6’, who ‘expressed their desire to blow up the Capitol and kill as many members as possible’.
The move could mean a late night in the House – the House is already expected to vote on the Democrats’ comprehensive suffrage and anti-corruption bill. Now the chamber will also consider Democrats’ legislation on police reform, which originally voted Thursday. Due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, each voice usually lasts 45 minutes to one hour.
Brian Harrell, the former assistant secretary of infrastructure at DHS, said he did not expect any successful attacks on the Capitol as it was currently reinforced like a military installation. “But he said: ‘all threats must be taken seriously and those seeking violence must be investigated. We still see extremist extremist groups fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories quickly becoming the most dangerous threat to society.’