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Because of this threat, the House of Representatives postponed scheduled votes so that members of Congress would not have to meet on the day of possible unrest.
US Capitol Police warned of the threat Wednesday and said intelligence on an unidentified paramilitary group prompted the announcement of the threat.
The information is based on online conversations between advocates of extremist conspiracy theories who believe former President Donald Trump will return to Washington on March 4 and be sworn in for a second term.
The danger was announced nearly two months after Trump supporters, including several far-right supporters of the QAnon conspiracy theory, invaded the Capitol. This storm, which claimed five lives, shook the citadel of American democracy.
Some QAnon supporters believe that Trump’s victory in the presidential election was stolen, and that he will return victorious to power on Thursday to continue the war with a secret global liberal sect that worships Satan.
“We have received intelligence on a possible conspiracy by an identified paramilitary group to invade the Capitol on Thursday, March 4,” Capitol Police said in a statement.
“We are already significantly strengthening security measures, including physical structures and additional personnel, to ensure the protection of Congress, the public and our police officers,” the report said, adding that officers “take this intelligence in I laughed”.
House officials informed lawmakers that there will be no vote on Thursday. They indicated that votes on two important laws related to police reform and voting rights would take place on Wednesday night. It was supposed to be the last vote this week.
The Chancellor of the House of Lords briefed senators and staff via email on the enhanced security measures, including the additional staff involved.
The Senate is due to begin deliberating with $ 1.9 trillion Thursday at 7 p.m. on a $ 1.57 trillion coronavirus pandemic mitigation plan backed by President Joe Biden.
Extremism of concern
The police have taken note of an online debate that has shown that some members of the QAnon movement consider this Thursday to be the day of Trump’s inauguration. Most United States presidents took office on March 4 through 1933, but the presidential inauguration was later postponed until January 20.
It is not yet clear whether the threat posed by extremist language on the Internet will be turned into action and these groups will be lured to Washington to cause unrest.
Timothy Blodgett, who is in charge of the US House of Representatives on Monday, reportedly sent reports to lawmakers about possible protests in connection with March 4.
However, he said in reports that the importance of the date had “diminished for various groups in recent days” and that violent protests were no longer expected.
However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security take the threat seriously and issued a joint bulletin Tuesday night warning of possible riots on March 4 and 6, the US official testified in Congress. high-ranking Department of Homeland Security Melissa Smislova. Wednesday.
Some proponents of conspiracy theories hoped that the January 6 riots would thwart confirmation of Biden’s victory in the presidential election and allow Trump to remain in power.
Following the failure of that attempt, QAnon supporters, spreading lies and misinformation, began arguing on March 4 as another way for Trump to return.
Absolutely no one suggests that this can happen. However, a company in Washington appears to be trying to misuse the following misinformation: Trump International Hotel, owned by D. Trump.
Their website indicates that the price of rooms on Wednesday and Thursday is $ 1,331 (€ 1,104) per day, almost three times the $ 476 (€ 395) per day from Saturday to the end of March.
The National Guard, which was stationed on Capitol Hill a few hours after the riots, continued in guard territory under increased security.
The FBI notes that there has been a significant increase in cases of domestic extremism in recent years, particularly among white supremacist groups and individuals.
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