The US Capitol Police is stepping up security after obtaining intelligence to suggest a “possible plot” by a militia group to violate the US Capitol on Thursday, March 4.
“The United States Capitol Police Department is aware of and prepared for any potential threats to members of Congress or the Capitol complex,” they said in a statement on Wednesday. “We obtained intelligence that shows a possible conspiracy to violate the Capitol by a militia group identified on Thursday, March 4.”
Capitol Police said it “has already made significant improvements in security to include establishing a physical structure and increasing the workforce to ensure the protection of Congress, the public and our officers.”
The Capitol Police said it is working with “local, state and federal partners to prevent any threat to the Capitol”.
“We are taking intelligence seriously,” the Capitol Police said in a statement. “Due to the sensitive nature of this information, we are unable to provide additional details at this time.”
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The warning comes at a time when law enforcement agencies in Washington, DC, are increasing security before March 4.
Sources told Fox News on Wednesday that there is genuine concern about the activities on March 4, saying there are “specifics” of “Three Percenters”, a right-wing anti-government militia movement.
But sources told Fox News that “there is no increase in hotel or flight occupancy” for DC.
In addition, there is “less detail” in this threat than in the now infamous FBI report in Norfolk, Virginia, the night before the Capitol riot, sources say.
Meanwhile, other sources told Fox News that Capitol security officials were leaving no stone unturned.
“They released this statement to ensure that nothing happens,” said a source who asked that they not be identified.
An additional Capitol source told Fox News that they saw nothing in regional intelligence that worried them, but Fox News was informed that there is concern about a small contingent of insurrectionists arriving at the Capitol perimeter.
“It only takes a van full of people with guns to mess with the National Guard,” warned a source familiar with the Capitol’s security warning.
The FBI, in a statement to Fox News on Wednesday, said: “While our standard practice is not to comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI is constantly gathering and sharing information with our law enforcement partners.”
“We are always on the alert for any potential threats,” said the FBI.
Earlier this week, in a memo to lawmakers, obtained by Fox News, acting weapons sergeant Timothy Blodgett said on Monday that officials continue to monitor “potential protests and activities around what some have described as the ‘real day’ ownership'”.
March 4 is the original day on which the United States took office from the presidents.
President Biden took office at noon on January 20, as prescribed by the 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933.
The warning comes less than two months after pro-Trump protesters violated the United States Capitol on January 6, during a joint session of Congress to certify the results of the electoral college in favor of Biden. The January 6 riot on Capitol Hill left five dead, including a United States Capitol Police officer.
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The House voted to impeach Trump on January 13 for inciting insurrection – making him the first president in the history of the United States to be impeached by the House of Representatives twice. Trump was acquitted by the Senate last month.
Meanwhile, after the riot, the Department of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System Bulletin after consulting with the intelligence community and federal law enforcement partners, warning that “there is currently a high threat environment in the United States that will likely persist for the next few weeks. “
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The bulletin noted that the agency has no information to indicate any “specific” or “credible” plots, but cited violence and unrest across the country related to the presidential transition.
“DHS has no information to indicate a specific and credible conspiracy; however, violent riots have continued in recent days and we remain concerned that individuals frustrated with the exercise of government authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived and ideological complaints causes fueled by false narratives can continue to mobilize a wide range of actors with ideological motivation to incite or commit violence, “said the bulletin.