FBI reportedly warned about violence
The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the FBI had warned that extremists were preparing to come to Washington, attack Congress and engage in “war.”
The report says the warning was issued internally by the FBI’S field office in Norfolk, Virginia, a day before the violent riot at the U.S. Capitol.
The warning contradicts statements from the Justice Department and FBI officials that they had no intelligence to suggest a storming of the Capitol.
The Post said the memo described how people had been sharing maps of the Capitol’s tunnels and discussing rallying points to meet up to travel to Washington. The newspaper reported that the document detailed posts calling for violence, including that “Congress needs to hear glass breaking, doors being kicked in, and blood from their BLM and Antifa slave soldiers being spilled.” It also said to “go there ready for war.” In other developments Tuesday: h Within a span of about 24 hours, three House Democrats announced they had tested positive for the coronavirus, prompting concern that last week’s insurrection has also turned into a super-spreader event threatening the health of lawmakers and their staffs.
Those who have tested positive were among the dozens of lawmakers whisked to a secure location when proTrump insurrectionists stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. Some members of Congress huddled for hours in the large room, while others were there for a shorter period.
While it’s not certain where and when lawmakers caught the illness, the Capitol’s attending physician notified all House lawmakers of possible virus exposure and urged them to be tested. Dr. Brian Moynihan said members who were in protective isolation last Wednesday “may have been exposed to another occupant with coronavirus infection.”
The three Democratic lawmakers directed their anger toward some House Republicans who were also in the secure room and declined opportunities to wear a mask, despite their role in blocking the spread of COVID-19. Video surfaced of Republicans refusing to wear a face mask even when they were offered one.
Democrats who tested positive for the virus were Reps. Brad Schneider of Illinois, Pramila Jayapal of Washington and Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey.
h Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the violence at the Capitol shows the need for the Senate to swiftly confirm President-elect Joe Biden’s national security team on the first day of his administration.
Schumer said in a letter to colleagues that the deadly Capitol riot was “one of the darkest days in all of American history.” He said Biden will need “key national security positions on Day One.”
h A total of 15,000 National Guard members have now been activated and will deploy to Washington to help provide security in the run-up to the Biden inauguration.
The number of Guard members coming in from other states has been growing, amid escalating fears of more violent protests in the wake of the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol last week.