Potential domestic extremists holding election-related resentments might resort to violence during the election's closing stages, according to a cautionary alert issued by the FBI and DHS.
Dangerous extremist groups persistently produce, utilize, and propagate narratives related to the electoral process or judicial decisions involving political figures, warning that these disputes might prompt some extremists to resort to violence, as demonstrated during the 2020 election period, the FBI and DHS convey in a communique directed to state and local authorities and private sector executives (the content of which CNN has acquired).
According to the assessment, these individuals filled with resentment, potentially stemming from animosity towards alleged political adversaries, pose the most substantial risk of committing extremist-related violence against election-related targets throughout the final phase of the 2024 election cycle and even up until the January inauguration.
The warning does not pinpoint any explicit or credible threat of violence against the election itself, yet it references the two attempts on former President Donald Trump's life as examples of extremists' readiness to disrupt public and private events in the run-up to the election.
The bulletin suggests that some domestic violent extremists might view easily accessible venues like political rallies, campaign events, ballot drop-off locations, and voter registration sites as alluring targets.
In a statement to CNN, the FBI expressed that "voting is currently underway in parts of our nation, and the FBI is cooperating closely with our law enforcement counterparts to monitor any hazards directed at election workers, public officials, candidates, and other individuals."
The FBI went on to say, "The FBI is aware that some individuals may be driven by the desire to commit violence or engage in unlawful activities. We are deeply involved with our partners in safeguarding our communities. The FBI remains vigilant and, as always, encourages members of the public to report any questionable activities to law enforcement."
CNN sought comment from DHS.
Since the 2020 presidential election, election officials related to both major political parties have endured a wave of violent threats and intimidation, frequently fuelled by false convictions of voter fraud. Numerous election officials have resigned from their positions due to the emotional and psychological strain the threats have imposed on them and their families.
Despite losing the election to President Joe Biden, Trump and his allies have expanded on false election allegations for years. A federal jury ordered Rudy Giuliani, Trump's former lawyer and former NYC mayor, to pay around $150 million to two Georgia election officials as reparations for the damage caused by defamatory statements Giuliani made about them following the 2020 election.
During the 2024 election period, the bulletin noted, there have been phony bomb threats to state capitol buildings. Public officials have additionally been "doxed," where their private information is made public online, and "swatted," which involves falsely reporting a crime to trigger a massive law enforcement response at a target's residence.
In recent times, as CNN previously reported, suspicious packages were delivered to election offices in over 20 states, prompting an FBI investigation, inducing evacuations, and unsettling staff.
Although the federal examination of many of those incidents is still underway, the actions "most likely, are intended to sow fear and impede election operations," the bulletin stated.
Given the ongoing tension and historical instances of violence, it's crucial for political figures and election officials to prioritize security measures during the remainder of the 2024 election cycle. The recent fake bomb threats and incidents of doxxing and swatting serve as stark reminders of the potential threats posed by extremist groups in the political arena.
