FBI: Armed protests planned in all 50 states between now and Inauguration Day
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Starting this week and running through at least Inauguration Day, armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitals and at the US Capitol, according to an internal FBI bulletin obtained by ABC News.
"As of 10 January, 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 bulletin said.
In addition, the FBI has received information in recent days on an identified group calling for "storming" state, local, and federal government courthouses and administrative buildings in the event Donald Trump is removed as president prior to Inauguration Day.
Chaos at the Capitol: Minute-by-minute video shows how riots, violence unfolded
"The FBI received information about an identified armed group intending to travel to Washington, DC, on 16 January," it read. "They have warned that if Congress attempts to remove POTUS via the 25th Amendment a huge uprising will occur."
The group is also planning to "storm" government offices in every state on Inauguration Day January 20, regardless of whether the states certified electoral votes for Biden or Trump.
"My assessment is that we are in a heightened state of national emergency," said Jack Tomarchio, who served as the Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis Operations in 2007. "I would make sure that I had adequate manpower and, yes, adequate fire power to deal with these threats."
Tomarchio said there was plenty of chatter on social media prior to the assault on the Capitol.
"The fact that nobody listened to that, or they listened to it and either disregarded it or they listened to it and didn't prepare for it strikes me as an incredible lack of readiness," said Tomarchio.
He said the feds should be preparing for worse case scenarios not just in Washington, but in cities like Philadelphia between now and Inauguration Day.
"I'm also worried about the days leading up to Inauguration Day, particularly the 17th of January, which has been billed as the Million Militia March on Washington and also marches on 50 state capitals," said Tomarchio.
RELATED | House Democrats prep Trump impeachment bill
The FBI bulletin included a map that showed the extent of law enforcement activity related to potential threats surrounding election certification and the inauguration.
Ed Farrell, the former Deputy US Marshal in Chicago, said regular law enforcement will need National Guard backup at some locations.
"There's obviously a big effort to stop and deter these actors before they become operational, which is going to be big," Farrell said. "They're going to be gathering intelligence on these individuals, they will be surveilling these individuals. And if they're able to get probably cause to arrest them, I would imagine you're going to see some arrests of bad actors. Additionally, I think you're going to see an elevated security presence at all government facilities, they're going to limit access to the buildings, they're going to put up barricades, they're going to close doors. Things to prevent people from coming in during this elevated risk time."
Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, told reporters Monday that the Guard is also looking at any issues across the country,
"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."
As of Sunday, approximately 29 individuals and/or social media accounts of individuals who unlawfully entered the US Capitol had been identified.
The FBI has received nearly 45,000 digital media tips that are now being reviewed.
On top of information being distributed by the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security's intelligence office, a day after the siege at the Capitol, released situation report headlined "Threats Surrounding the 2021 Electoral College Certification."
It opened this way: The Office of Intelligence and Analysis "assesses individuals harboring violent extremist ideologies and other violent actors likely will continue to threaten or target elected officials, other public figures, and members of the general public who these actors perceive as opposing their worldview, which is consistent with past attack plotting and historical drivers for violent activity. (The Current and Emerging Threats Center) remains in communication with the Intelligence Community to ensure any threats concerning government operations are identified."
As a result, state capitols across the nation stepped up security, deploying National Guard units, SWAT teams and extra police officers as several legislatures convened amid heightened safety concerns.
The FBI bulletin also stated unequivocally that Officer Brian Sicknick "died from injuries sustained during the US Capitol breach."
The Associated Press and ABC News contributed to this report.
