Capitol Police report warns ‘Congress itself’ could be targeted: WaPo



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  • In a report produced days before the deadly siege on the US Capitol, US Capitol Police intelligence warned that “Congress itself” could be the target of attack by pro-Trump protesters.
  • The Jan. 3 report, obtained by the Washington Post, said that Trump supporters viewed Jan. 6 as “the last opportunity to overturn the presidential election results” and that this “sense of hopelessness and disappointment could lead to greater incitement to become violent. “
  • As a result of the attack, the United States Capitol Police came under scrutiny for failing to prevent the breach of the Capitol building.
  • Visit the Business Insider homepage for more stories.

In a report produced days before the deadly siege on the US Capitol, US Capitol Police intelligence warned that “Congress itself” could be the target of attack by pro-Trump protesters.

“The supporters of the current president see January 6, 2021 as the last opportunity to overturn the results of the presidential election,” said part of the report, obtained by the Washington Post. “This feeling of hopelessness and disappointment can lead to greater incitement to become violent.”

“Unlike previous post-election protests, the targets of pro-Trump supporters are not necessarily the counter-protesters as they once were, but rather Congress itself is the target on the 6th,” the report said.

A spokesperson for the Capitol Police did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.

Since a violent mob attacked the Capitol building, forcing lawmakers to evacuate and killing five, the US Capitol Police have come under scrutiny for failing to prevent the breach.

Read more: There is a toll ahead for the Congressional Police which allowed the worst breach of the U.S. Capitol since the British torched the building in 1814

The day after the attack, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for the resignation of Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund. Sund announced his resignation hours later.

A Capitol Police officer told Insider’s Ashley Collman that he and others expected to work Wednesday due to planned protest rallies, but were told to go home. Meanwhile, reports have revealed that law enforcement is planning violence on the Capitol that day.

An FBI report, also obtained by The Post, warned of a “war” on the United States Capitol a day before the insurgency.

The 12-page Capitol Police intelligence report warning of a threat to Congress was produced on January 3, three days before the attack.

The report makes clear the possibility of violence from supporters of President Donald Trump on January 6, citing multiple protests that were to take place on Capitol Hill grounds that day.

He noted that the “Stop the Steal” protest was promoted by the president himself and could attract thousands of people, as high-level speakers – including members of Congress – were expected.

“This, combined with Stop the Steal’s propensity to attract white supremacists, militia members and others who actively promote violence, can lead to a considerably dangerous situation for law enforcement and the general public,” indicates the report.

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