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FBI warns of armed protests at state capitals and in DC ahead of Biden inauguration

By COLLEEN LONG and MICHAEL BALSAMO and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Updated  January 11, 2021 10:22pm EST
Washington, D.C.
Associated Press

FBI warns of more violence

While the FBI investigates the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, the agency warned that armed protests could target the U.S. Capitol again as well as government buildings across the country.

WASHINGTON - The FBI is warning of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington in the days leading up to President-election Joe Biden's inauguration, stoking fears of more bloodshed after last week's deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol.

An internal FBI bulletin warned that, as of Sunday, the nationwide protests may start later this week and extend through Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, according to two law enforcement officials who read details of the memo to The Associated Press. Investigators believe some of the people are members of some extremist groups, the officials said. The bulletin was first reported by ABC.

"Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the U.S. Capitol from 17 January through 20 January," the bulletin said, according to one official. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Timeline of the riot at the US Capitol on Jan. 6

What started as a congressional and democratic exercise in the peaceful transfer of power, devolved into death, destruction and chaos.

The FBI issued at least one other bulletin — they go out to law enforcement nationwide on the topic — before the riots last week. On Dec. 29, it warned of the potential for armed demonstrators targeting legislatures, the second official said.

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told reporters on Monday that the Guard is also looking at any issues across the country,

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"We’re keeping a look across the entire country to make sure that we’re monitoring, and that our Guards in every state are in close coordination with their local law enforcement agencies to provide any support requested."

Trump supporters stand on the U.S. Capitol Police armored vehicle as others take over the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The riots followed weeks of online calls for violence in Washington in the waning days of Donald Trump's presidency.

A tweet in which Trump promised that last Wednesday's event "will be wild" fueled a "month-long frenzy of incitements, strategizing, and embrace of violence against lawmakers," according to a research group that tracks online extremism activity, In a report issued Saturday, the SITE Intelligence Group also warns that the Capitol attack has emboldened Trump-supporting extremists.

"No matter how all this plays out, its only the beginning," posted a user on TheDonald message board, according to the report.

Republican reaction to Capitol chaos

Despite the chaos in the Capitol over the Electoral College count, some Republicans still voted to object to the certification of the election. But for some, including members of his own cabinet, the violence was too much and they're jumping ship.

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Kunzelman reported from College Park, Maryland.