The Capitol Police are bolstering security measures in response to evidence suggesting a second attack could be coming to the Capitol on Thursday. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have provided information about increased chatter among extremist groups about the possibility of plotting the attack. The Capitol Police released a statement early on Wednesday, saying that the department “had obtained intelligence that shows a possible plot to breach. The Capitol by an identified militia group on Thursday March 4th.” Rep. Adam Smith, the chairman of the House Armed Serviced Committee, told defense officials that the attack being planned is by groups of Trump supporters as well as members of the group, QAnon. He and law enforcement officials have said that while these rumors have been circulating online, it is likely that they will not amount to any actions, but precautions are being put in place regardless.
The threats relate to a far-right conspiracy theory being circulated, which is that Donald Trump will assume the presidency on March 4th. This was the day that inaugurations often took place on prior to 1933. The theory says that there has not been a legitimate president since Ulysses S. Grant in 1869, and that, in 1871, a law was passed “that secretly turned the United States into a corporation making all presidents after Grant illegitimate.” QAnon researchers have claimed that the group itself has been downplaying the significance of the date, suggesting that QAnon’s most outspoken leaders are likely not on board. Travis View, a researcher and host of the QAnon Anonymous podcast where he debunks their theories, told USA Today that the group likely isn’t prescribing to the March 4th theory, however, there are subgroups of believers within the larger QAnon ideology. “QAnon is generally a pretty big tent conspiracy theory,” View said. “Where they’re not eager to shoot down the theories of fellow believers. But occasionally there are things that cross the line.” He said that many QAnon promoters don’t want to sign on to the plan because they don’t want “the embarrassment of another failed prediction.” Additionally, after the arrests of over a dozen of its most vocal members, the group likely doesn’t want to be publicly involved with anything happening in DC.
The Capitol Police are at this time confident in the possibility that nothing will happen on March 4th, but after the events in January, National Guard members have been already stationed around the barrier of the Capitol and they say they are taking the threats “very seriously.” “Based on the intelligence we have, the Department has taken immediate steps to enhance our security posture and staffing for a number of days, to include March 4,” USCP tweeted. “The department has communicated our enhanced posture as well as the available intelligence for the entire workforce.”
