Currents News Staff
Horror, confusion and pain are just some of the things lawmakers say they felt during the attempted coup at the U.S. capitol.
“I haven’t seen a sight like that since I was in Iraq in a war zone,” said Colorado Rep. Jason Crow.
But now there’s a new concern surrounding these images: motivation.
Law enforcement agencies warn the insurrection is potentially inspiring home-grown terrorists to carry out more attacks, both in Washington and around the country.
“I would also be significantly concerned about some of these, the longer term planning efforts among the Boogaloo Boys, and the LARPers, cosplay seditionists, hitting at not just state capitols and seats of power across the 50 states, but also infrastructure,” said Christopher Krebs, the former Director of Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at the Department of Homeland Security. “Hitting soft targets.”
Already, prosecutors have charged dozens of people with federal crimes related to the Capitol chaos. Law enforcement expects to arrest hundreds more.
“We saw, really, the birth of a domestic terror movement last week and we’re going to have to deal with that in the months and years ahead,” said Rep. Crow.
President Trump urges calm.
“Violence and vandalism have absolutely no place in our country,” he said. “And no place in our movement.”
But chatter about copycat attacks has put federal and state officials on high alert.
“They won’t catch anyone by surprise this time,” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. “We know they’re there. We know how violent they can be.”
In response, thousands of armed National Guard troops surround Washington, D.C. and barriers block streets. The iconic National Mall will be closed on Inauguration Day.
“We are on the path to making sure that it is secure,” said Rep. Crow. “And it is going to be secure.”