The FBI has sent a memo to law enforcement agencies across the country warning about possible armed protests at all 50 state capitols starting Saturday and saying an armed group has threatened to travel to Washington, D.C., the same day to stage an uprising if Congress removes President Donald Trump from office, according to a senior law enforcement official.
The memo includes information provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Defense Department; U.S. Park Police; and the U.S. Marshals Service, among other agencies, according to the official. Some of the information came from social media, some from open sources and some from other sources of information.
The memo was first reported by ABC News.
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The senior law enforcement official said the FBI's National Crisis Coordination Center distributed the update as a summary of threat information it has received after the deadly mob attack on the U.S. Capitol last week.
While the memo discusses possible threats discussed by online actors for Saturday through the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Jan. 20, it doesn't mean law enforcement agencies expect violent mass protests or confrontations in every state.
For example, a spokesperson for the FBI in Boston said, "At this point in time, the FBI Boston Division is not in possession of any intelligence indicating any planned, armed protests at the four state capitals in our area of responsibility (ME, MA, NH, and RI) from January 17-20, 2021."
The spokesperson added, "As always, we are in constant communication with our law enforcement partners and will share any actionable intelligence."
According to the memo, the armed group that has discussed traveling to Washington on Saturday said there would be a huge uprising if Congress tries to remove Trump through the 25th Amendment to the Constitution. Law enforcement officials pointed out that Congress can't remove a president through the 25th Amendment.
