Newly revealed documents show law enforcement officials were concerned that far-left activists “try to blend” with Trump supporters during the January 6 protests and “cause trouble, especially around the cameras “.
In a January 5 email, an official with the Capitol Police Interagency Intelligence and Coordination Division alerted several federal and law enforcement agencies to a Twitter post about the Antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters. from Baltimore and Washington “already disturbing people on January 6”.
The email was sent to the US Park Police, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, and Washington Metro Police Department. It was among 300 pages of U.S. parks police files related to the January 6 riot that were obtained by Judicial Watch in a Freedom of Information Act trial.
“Orders given to dress like ‘MAGA’ are mixing and causing problems, especially around the cameras,” read the Twitter post shared by the USCP intelligence official. “At night, an arson was ordered. All to blame on the Trump supporters present. “
In the email, the official told his law enforcement colleagues that the message received “multiple responses” saying that the BLM and Antifa activists “will wear MAGA hats backwards, though. camouflage and try to blend in with the MAGA “crowd.
During and after the January 6 riot, news outlets including the Washington Times reported that activists from left-wing organizations were present in the crowd that stormed the Capitol.
While law enforcement identified far-right extremists in the crowd, no Antifa activists or other far-left activists were identified. The Times issued a correction for its flawed report.
However, the emails confirm that the possibility of unrest by left-wing activists was on the radar of law enforcement officials as they prepared for the protests. In emails, managers don’t do much to assess the credibility of the tweet.
“This guy’s Twitter says he’s running for the US Senate for MD in 2022,†the email read. “He retweets a lot of Lin Wood.”
The account that posted the tweet referenced by officials has since been suspended.
Law enforcement officials were also concerned about the possibility of counter-protesters clashing with pro-Trump protesters on Jan.6, according to a briefing on the U.S. park police incidents the day before.
The incident briefing note, which was also obtained as part of the FOIA trial, describes several gatherings planned throughout the day and details the number of attendees expected for each rally gleaned from the media posts. social.
The report identified Women for America First’s “March for Trump” featuring President Trump and members of his family as keynote speakers as a potential flashpoint.
“This group has significant potential to attract counter-protesters, similar to the events of November and December 2020,†the report read.
“Multiple acts of violence have occurred in downtown Washington, DC during and after similar events hosted by the same organizer.”
A spokesperson for the Capitol Police told The Times that the email exchange alone does not indicate officials found the claim credible.
“Intelligence and law enforcement in this region receive a lot of advice on social media discussions,” the spokesperson said.
“There is no indication that the information in this online chatter ended up being credible.”
“We have no proof that ANTIFA was there on 1/6,” the spokesperson said. “ANTIFA was not one of the dozens of people arrested on 1/6. “
Utah resident John Sullivan, who sold images of riots from inside the Capitol to new outlets for more than $ 35,000, was later arrested for being inside the Capitol . He described himself as a Black Lives Matter supporter and founder of Insurgence USA, which Utah-based Deseret News described as “a social justice group … which calls itself anti-racist and protests against brutality. policewoman”.
Mr Sullivan says he was acting as a freelance reporter on Jan.6 and has denied any affiliation with Antifa. Prosecutors noted that he was not affiliated with any media outlet and that he had no press references as of January 6.
