Last week’s Capitol siege was a potential practice run for many of Donald Trump’s most ardent supporters intent on committing domestic terrorism based on conspiracy theories, white grievance, and contempt for democracy.
According to an internal FBI bulletin, this final week of Trump’s toxic presidency may be most violent, with armed demonstrations being planned for all 50 state capitols and “war” at the U.S. Capitol, extending through Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20.
The bulletin warns:
“The FBI received information about an identified armed group intending to travel to Washington, DC on 16 January. They have warned that if Congress attempts to remove POTUS via the 25th Amendment, a huge uprising will occur.”
National Guard Bureau chief Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson stated:
“We’re keeping a look across the entire country to make sure that we’re monitoring, and that our Guards in every state are in close coordination with their local law enforcement agencies to provide any support requested.”
An invitation disseminated on social media (below) describes the protests as an “armed march on Capitol Hill and all state capitols,” urging attendees to “come armed at your personal discretion.”
According to The Washington Post, an “online thread” “discussed specific calls for violence,” including:
“Be ready to fight. Congress needs to hear glass breaking, doors being kicked in, and blood from their BLM and Pantifa [sic] slave soldiers being spilled. Get violent. Stop calling this a march, or rally, or a protest. Go there ready for war. We get our President or we die. NOTHING else will achieve this goal.”
Law enforcement sources informed ABC News federal law enforcement officials have subsequently advised police agencies across the country to bolster security at statehouses.
In response, Michigan has banned open carry inside its Capitol building, particularly in light of the armed domestic terrorists that stormed it in April opposing Covid-19, and the October plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and put her on trial for treason.
Vermont Department of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling said:
“We will have a variety of assets prepared for any eventuality if the information that comes in between now and either the 17th or the 20th, or any other date for that matter, indicates the need for that kind of response. With the heightened sensitivity right now, to the extent there are demonstrations, you’re going to see a much different, more vivid and visible posture than is typical.”
The Washington Monument will be closed until January 24, and federal authorities have moved up the date of a planned lockdown for sections of the nation’s Capitol by six days.
Capitol Police briefed Democrats on Monday about three more potentially upcoming lethal plots to surround the Capitol and assassinate Democrats and some Republicans.
Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Penn.) explained:
“They were talking about 4,000 armed ‘patriots’ to surround the Capitol and prevent any Democrat from going in. They have published ‘rules of engagement’, meaning when you shoot and when you don’t. So this is an organized group that has a plan. They are committed to doing what they’re doing because I think in their minds, you know, they are patriots and they’re talking about 1776 and so this is now a contest of wills.”
He added:
“We are not negotiating with or reasoning with these people. They have to be prosecuted. They have to be stopped. And unfortunately, that includes the president, which is why he needs to be impeached and removed from office.”
That impeachment could come as early as Wednesday, making Donald Trump the only president to be impeached twice, if Vice President Mike Pence refuses to invoke the 25th Amendment to depose Trump and assume the duties of Acting President until Joe Biden takes the Oath of Office.
This could be the most tense week in our nation’s history.
We should hope law enforcement will be more prepared than it was last week.
Image credit: Journalist’s Resource
