Newsweek - USA (2021-02-12)

once is the term “Trump supporters” used. “Do-

mestic violent extremists” of every possible variety

are scrutinized and monitored, including “white

supremacists.” But the idea that the threat to

America might be the president’s own militia? Of-

ficials say that to issue such a report, to have one

show up in the news media—or worse, on Donald

Trump’s desk—would risk a storm of retribution.

Multiple homeland security and intelligence of-

ficials tell Newsweek that such a threat was never

codified. The effect, these officials admit, is that

while the FBI might have been focused on “Proud

Boys” or specific individuals threatening violence,

the big picture was unseen. By fearfully silencing

any reference to partisan politics, the U.S. national

security apparatus ensured its own failure.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff were so intent on keep-

ing the military out of the election and the tran-

sition that it didn’t even follow its own contin-

gency plans for defense of the capital. And then it

stood in the way of the D.C. Guard being directly

involved, foiling the last hope that someone would

prepare.

Response to a threat everyone knew existed was

further weakened by the status of three of the cen-

tral national security officials: the Attorney Gen-

eral, the Defense Secretary and the Secretary of

Homeland Security. All were only “acting” in their

jobs—unconfirmed by the Senate—and two were

so new to their departments that they hadn’t even

met many of their own subordinates.

And what about the Capitol Police, a sovereign

force of Congress and not even under Donald

Trump’s control? When Chief Steven Sund asked

“there’s a general rule of security,

that once they’re inside the perimeter, it’s all

over,” one senior military officer

told newsweek, referring to mob control.