Emails from the Secret Service newly reported on are raising more concerns about intelligence failures ahead of the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
According to documents obtained by Politico from the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, the Secret Service sent a warning to the U.S. Capitol Police about potential violence just one day before the riot. On the same day, there was another email that surfaced describing other threats made to the officers.
The outlet notes that names of senders and recipients are redacted in the emails but “the only sender listed on the email sent to Capitol Police is ‘PIOC-ONDUTY.'”
The email reads, “Per our Denver Field Office, a concerned citizen reported that [REDACTED] were flying into BWI today to attend tomorrow’s rally and ‘incite violence.'”
It continues, “In addition, the source reports that [REDACTED] previously made threats against President-Elect Biden. The source also reported that [REDACTED] was driving to DC with gear and weapons, to include ballistic helmets, armored gloves and vests, rifles, and suppressors.”
The email then said the “subjects claimed that they are in the area to protest election fraud, support President Trump, and acknowledged the possibility of violence if approached by counter-protesters.”
It also mentioned a Facebook post from one of the people who made threats.
“We have an opportunity in Front of us to take back our country and abolish the deep state once and for all,” the post reads. “Call me some right wing conspiracy theorist if you will I don’t give a [f***] I read the Facts and I study history.”
Another email from the Secret Service included more threats made against officers.
“The user posted multiple threatening posts from today (01/05/21) to include, ‘Its time the DC Police get their ass whooped for being traitors in our nations capitol’, ‘DC Police are the enemy of the people. No mercy to them on the 6th. They are not on our side’, ‘time to fight! We cant trust the police, the laws, or the politicians,'” the email says.
It adds, “‘It’s time to take out all of them to remain a free country on the 6th.’ And ‘The police need to be dealth with on the 6th. Our 2A covers Marxist police officers. If they want a war, they will get one Wednesday. (middle finger emoji) the DC police.’”
A Senate report in June also highlighted a series of intelligence and communication failures ahead of the Capitol riot.
Last week, the FBI said at this point it believes the violence on January 6 “was not centrally coordinated by far-right groups or prominent supporters of then-President Donald Trump.”