■ Capitol Police say they are taking no chances as they prepare for a rally at the U.S. Capitol.
Unclear how big rally for those jailed will be
WASHINGTON — Burned before, Capitol Police say they are taking no chances as they prepare for a Saturday rally at the U.S. Capitol in support of rioters imprisoned after the violent Jan. 6 insurrection.
Though it is unclear how big the rally will be, the Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police Department are fully activating in an effort to avoid a repeat of the pre-inauguration attack.
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said at a news conference Friday it was difficult to say whether threats of violence at the event are credible, but he said that “chatter” online and elsewhere has been similar to intelligence that was missed in January.
A permit for the protest allows 700 people. Manger said he believes the most likely possibility for for violence Saturday will involve clashes between the protesters and counter-protesters who may show up.
“We’re not going to tolerate violence, and we will not tolerate criminal behavior of any kind,” Manger said. “The American public and members of Congress have an expectation that we protect the Capitol. And I am confident that the plan we have in place will meet that expectation.”
Meanwhile, a federal judge who sentenced a California architect on Friday to probation for her role in the Capitol riot stressed that the Jan. 6 insurrection “represented a threat to democracy” and continues to resonate “in sad and unfortunate ways.”
U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman noted that security fencing has gone up around the Capitol in preparation for Saturday’s rally by what he called “misguided” people protesting what they allege is the mistreatment of jailed insurrectionists.
Friedman sentenced Valerie
Elaine Ehrke to three years of probation and ordered her to perform 120 hours of community service.