An internal Capitol Police intelligence report issued three days before the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6 said that “Congress itself” could be the target of protesters meeting in Washington, DC, that day, according to one report.
The 12-page intelligence memo, parts of which were obtained by The Washington Post, said the potential targets of the protesters “were not necessarily counter-protesters as they were before, but Congress itself”.
The House and Senate had met in a joint session that day to certify the votes of the Electoral College that were collected on December 14, but Congress was delayed for hours after protesters stormed the building.
“Supporters of the current president see January 6, 2021 as the last opportunity to overturn the results of the presidential election,” continued the report, adding: “This feeling of despair and disappointment can lead to yet another incentive to become violent. ”
Protesters and police officers clash outside the US Capitol in Washington, January 6, 2021. (Getty Images)
RESPONSE AND PREPARATION OF DOJ’S CAPITOL RIOT TO BE REVIEWED BY IG
The report said that combined with the likelihood that the “Stop Theft” rally “would attract white supremacists, militia members and others who actively promote violence”, could lead to “situations that are significantly dangerous for the police and the general public” .
The Capitol Police’s assessment was not widely shared, including with the FBI or other law enforcement agencies, the Post reported.
The Justice Department’s internal surveillance body announced on Friday that it would investigate how the department and its law enforcement agencies prepared and responded to the siege.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz said that the office review “will examine the role and activity of the Department of Justice and its components in preparing for and responding to events.”
WITH REGARD TO THE CAPITOL MOTIVE, THE FEDS WARN THAT PROBABLE VIOLENT EXTREMISTS HAVE ‘GREATER THREATS OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM’
“The DOJ EIG review will include examining information relevant to the January 6 events that were available to the DOJ and its components prior to January 6; the extent to which that information was shared by the DOJ and its components with the DOJ Police. US Capitol and others, state and local agencies; and the role of DOJ staff in responding to events at the US Capitol on January 6, “said Horowitz.
The review is one of several surveys launched by inspectors general, including surveys in the departments of Homeland Security and Defense and the Department of the Interior, which oversees the Park Police.
In a statement provided to Fox News, acting defense secretary Christopher Miller said that “the American people deserve transparency” about the January 6 events.
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Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who resigned after the attack, previously told the Post that he had “nothing to indicate that we would have a large crowd taking over the Capitol” beforehand.
Capitol Police did not immediately respond to Fox News’s request for comment after hours.
Fox News’ Jake Gibson and Stephanie Pagones contributed to this report.