An internal FBI note obtained by ABC News shows warnings about “a huge uprising.”
Starting this week, and at least during the opening day, armed protests are being planned in the 50 state capitals and the U.S. Capitol, according to an internal FBI newsletter obtained by ABC News.
The FBI has also received information in recent days about a group calling for “assaulting” state, local and federal courts and administrative buildings in the event that President Donald Trump was removed from office before the day of the inauguration. The group also plans to “assault” government offices in all states on the day President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated, regardless of whether states certified electoral votes for Biden or Trump.
“The FBI received information about an identified armed group intending to travel to Washington, DC on Jan. 16,” the bulletin said. “They have warned that if Congress tries to eliminate POTUS through the 25th Amendment, there will be a huge revolt.”
Federal police officials have advised law enforcement agencies to increase their security stance in state homes across the country after the riot at the U.S. Capitol, police sources told ABC News.
Following the violent capitulation of the U.S. Capitol in favor of Trump last Wednesday, Democratic lawmakers in the House of Representatives advanced Monday in an effort to get Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment, which would declare Trump incapable of executing his would assume presidential functions and install Pence as acting president until Biden is sworn in on January 20th.
The effort was eventually blocked by Republican Rep. Alex Mooney of West Virginia, and House Democrats introduced an article of dismissal against Trump for “inciting insurrection.”
The move, which has more than 200 Democratic sponsors, states that Trump has “demonstrated that he will continue to be a threat to national security, democracy and the Constitution if he is allowed to hold office and has acted in a totally incompatible manner.” with self-government “and the rule of law.”
According to the FBI, as of Sunday, approximately 29 people and / or social media accounts of people who entered the Capitol illegally had been identified.
The FBI has received nearly 45,000 digital media tips that are now being reviewed.
At least five people were killed during the siege of the Capitol, including Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick. The FBI bulletin said Sicknick “died from injuries sustained during the breach of the U.S. Capitol.”
Mariam Khan of ABC News contributed to this report.