Many states are taking additional security precautions, bracing for potentially violent protests in their capitals.
In the wake of the attack on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month by President Trump-supporting rioters, urgent security preparations for Inauguration Day are underway in more than just the nation’s capital. Law enforcement officials are also bracing for potential violence in state capitals across America, taking steps to fortify government buildings and protect state lawmakers. The preparations largely come in response to a warning the FBI issued to local law enforcement on Monday, which cautioned that extremists, conspiracy theorists, and hate groups have called for armed protests in all 50 states. « We don’t want everybody looking at Washington as the whole universe of security issues, » Ken Cuccinelli, the acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said Intelligence officials say they have picked up increasing online chatter about attacks across the country since January 6, Cuccinelli warned. However, the talk has been light on particulars, providing law enforcement with few actionable details. « There’s nothing that specific, » Cuccinelli explained.
