Was the Capitol Riot Planned in Advance?

Evidence collected by investigators looking into the January 6th riot suggests the attack may have been planned in advance. If so, the riot could not have been “incited” by President Donald Trump’s rhetoric as those pushing for impeachment have claimed.

On January 12th, they created a “strike force” to learn more about the January 6th attack. The group is handling the investigation “just like a significant international counterterrorism or counterintelligence operation,” explains DC US Attorney Michael Sherwin. ”We’re looking at everything: money, travel records. Looking at disposition, movement, communication records. So no resource related to the FBI or the US Attorney’s Office will be unchecked in terms of trying to determine exactly if there was a command and control how it operated and how they executed these, these activities.”

The FBI has received more than 126,000 tips. They include accusations that members of Congress were interacting with protestors before the attack. A handful of people turned themselves in with hopes of leniency after officials threatened riot participants with 20-year prison sentences.

“We know who you are if you’re out there,” warned FBI Director Christopher Wray. “And FBI agents are coming to find you.”

Oddly enough, the FBI has claimed it had no intel to predict the attack. However, its Norfolk, VA office warned on January 5th that extremists were sharing maps of the Capitol complex online and planning to bring “war” to DC. 

As reported by Norfolk: “An online thread discussed specific calls for violence to include stating, ‘Be ready to fight. Congress needs to hear glass breaking, doors being kicked in, and blood from their BLM and Pantifa soldiers being spilled.’” 

The thread continues: “Go there ready for war…We get our President or we die. NOTHING else will achieve this goal.”

On 8kun, a message board popular with QAnon followers, people talked for weeks about the upcoming attack. “You can go to Washington on Jan. 6 and help storm the Capitol…As many Patriots as can be. We will storm the government buildings, kill cops, kill security guards, kill federal employees and agents, and demand a recount. 

The Washington, DC Capitol Police’s intelligence unit also predicted the attack. They issued a memo saying Trump supporters see January 6th as “the last opportunity to overturn the results of the presidential election…This sense of desperation and disappointment may lead to more of an incentive to become violent.”

“Unlike previous post-election protests, the targets of the pro-Trump supporters are not necessarily the counter-protestors as they were previously, but rather Congress itself is the target.”

Despite all of this information, FBI agents in Washington took no action to protect the Capitol on January 6th other than visiting a few suspected extremists to tell them not to attend. 

Steven D’Antuono, who leads the FBI’s Washington Field Office, has even said “there was no indication” of any plans on January 6th “other than First-Amendment protected activity.”

As I wrote in a previous article, it is likely that Democratic leadership throughout the government ignored the warning signs on purpose in order to create a scene they could use to push impeachment charges against Donald Trump (read more here).

It is even possible that some people involved in the attack went on tours of the Capitol Complex on January 5th, argues Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), which brings to light the possibility that members of Congress abetted the attack.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has suggested criminal charges for any lawmakers found to have aided protestors.

Sources:

Report: FBI Office Warned of ‘War’ at US Capitol Despite Claim Attack was Unknown 

An FBI Report Warned of Violence at the Capitol. Why Didn’t the Government Prepare? 

FBI, NYPD told Capitol Police about possibility of violence before riot, senior officials say

Report: Capitol Police knew Congress might be a target days before attack