| Greenville News
The FBI notified the State Law Enforcement Division about the possibility of armed protests in Columbia, South Carolina’s capital, soon.
SLED spokesman Tommy Crosby confirmed that an FBI notification was received. Crosby said on Monday night, during a brief interview, that the information came from the FBI to SLED during “normal, standard, established communications” between the state and federal agencies.
“SLED received information from the FBI about potential armed protests in the capitals of our countries,” said Crosby. “We are and have been in constant communication with our federal, state and local partners on this information and are prepared to provide any necessary assistance as requested.”
Groups that track extremist right-wing organizations said preparations for more violence were underway, and the FBI was warning of possible armed protests in state capital buildings starting in less than a week and continuing until the inauguration of Democratic President-elect Joe Biden, an officer with knowledge of a bulletin told USA TODAY.
The official, who was not allowed to comment publicly, said the authorities have also distributed a poster publicizing events with the words “When democracy is destroyed, refuse to be silenced”. The poster calls for an “armed march on the Capitol and in all state capitals,” according to USA TODAY reports.
Warnings of potential armed protests come just after a crowd of protesters who support President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, when Congress met to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. At least five people died, including a Capitol police officer and a woman who was shot by the police.
Hours after the deadly turmoil, two state Republican congressmen – Rep. Jeff Duncan and Rep. William Timmons – voted against the Electoral College results showing that Biden won in Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Three other South Carolina Republican congressmen – Rep. Ralph Norman, Rep. Tom Rice and Rep. Joe Wilson also opposed the Pennsylvania and Arizona counts
The Republican Party’s efforts to overturn the results of Arizona and Pennsylvania were handily defeated in the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate. Dozens of Republicans joined Democrats in both chambers in the vote to dismiss the objections.
Unlike their South Carolina Republican colleagues in the House, the two Republican state senators – Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott – voted to accept the results from Arizona and Pennsylvania.
Warnings about possible armed protests in Columbia come as the state legislature prepares for a new session starting on Tuesday and when South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, a Republican, prepares to deliver his state of the art speech. Wednesday night.