FBI and Department of Homeland Security flag extremist content that may inspire violence against government officials, including members of Congress.
In the days leading up to the anniversary of the 6 January Capitol insurrection, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has raised alarms over an increase in extremist threats against lawmakers. A memo obtained by The Guardian reveals that DHS, alongside the FBI, has flagged concerning online content that could inspire violence, particularly by lone offenders targeting government officials.
While the DHS states there is no specific, credible plot, they have identified troubling extremist material on various platforms. One such example includes a video posted by an anonymous individual, which listed 95 members of Congress who allegedly played a role in certifying the “fraudulent” 2020 election. The video, which called for these Congress members to be hanged in front of the White House, was shared widely across QAnon-affiliated forums, Telegram, and blogs, accumulating over 60,000 views.
John Cohen, head of the DHS’s office of intelligence and analysis, emphasized the growing threat, pointing out that the video included violent calls for assassinations of Democratic political figures, further stoking fears of violence on the anniversary of the Capitol attack.
