Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols, says internal FBI bulletin

Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols and at the U.S. Capitol starting this week and running through at least President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on January 20, states an internal FBI bulletin. According to ABC News, in recent days the agency has received information about a group calling for "storming" state, local, and federal government courthouses and administrative buildings in the event that President Donald Trump is removed from office prior to Inauguration Day. The same group reportedly also has plans to "storm" government offices in every state the day Biden swears in as president, regardless of whom the states certified electoral votes for.

"The FBI received information about an identified armed group intending to travel to Washington, DC on 16 January," the bulletin obtained by the network reads. "They have warned that if Congress attempts to remove POTUS via the 25th Amendment, a huge uprising will occur." Police agencies have reportedly been advised by federal law enforcement officials to increase their security posture at statehouses around the country in the aftermath of the violent pro-Trump assault on the U.S. Capitol building last week. The news of more potentially violent actions from Trump supporters comes even as federal investigators continue to track down suspects from the January 6 riot that left five people, including a Capitol Police officer, dead.

"Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the US Capitol from 17 January through 20 January," the FBI bulletin states, reports CNN. "On 8 January, the FBI received information on an identified group calling for others to join them in 'storming' state, local and federal government courthouses and administrative buildings in the event POTUS is removed as President prior to Inauguration Day. This identified group is also planning to 'storm' government offices including in the District of Columbia and in every state, regardless of whether the states certified electoral votes for Biden or Trump, on 20 January."

The FBI is also tracking reports of "various threats to harm President-Elect Biden ahead of the presidential inauguration," the bulletin states, adding that "additional reports indicate threats against VP-Elect Harris and Speaker Pelosi." The agency said in a separate statement that its "efforts are focused on identifying, investigating, and disrupting individuals that are inciting violence and engaging in criminal activity," and that its "focus is not on peaceful protesters, but on those threatening their safety and the safety of other citizens with violence and destruction of property."

Meanwhile, the threats surrounding the inauguration prompted the government to hold Continuity of Government Operations which is a standard practice in the event that someone tries to disrupt the transition. A senior administration official revealed that Monday's interagency rehearsal aimed to ensure a seamless chain of command in the event of a national emergency in the days leading up to President-elect Biden's inauguration and on that day itself. It is said to have focused heavily on "readiness in the event that somebody tries to disrupt or stop the inauguration."

Anticipating more unrest in the days to follow, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser yesterday urged Americans to avoid the city next week and to watch the inauguration virtually. Speaking at a news conference Monday, Bowser expressed concern about more violent actors potentially coming to the city in the run-up to the inauguration, saying, "If I'm scared of anything, it's for our democracy, because we have very extreme factions in our country that are armed and dangerous. Trumpism won't die on January 20." Bowser has also asked Trump and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to declare a pre-disaster declaration for DC. The White House said in a statement Monday night that Trump approved the emergency declaration.