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Added on the 26/10/2020 16:38:33 - Copyright : Wochit
Following the violent attack on the US Capitol, federal officials launched the most extensive counterterrorism probe since September 11, 2001. Meanwhile, the heads of the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security--and the President himself--have remained essentially silent. But according to CNN, the Federal Bureau of Investigation means business. And FBI Director Christopher Wray doesn't mind saying so. Wray says the agency is monitoring 'extensive' online chatter about future protests and warned the men and women who wreaked havoc on the Capitol. We know who you are, if you're out there and FBI agents are coming to find you. Christopher Wray Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation The insurrection was fueled by President Donald Trump's lies about his definitive election loss. It also exposed the reach of baseless conspiracy theories that have radicalized Americans to the point that they laid siege to their own Capitol.
Investigators now believe the attack on the US Capitol last week was not just a protest that spiraled out of control. CNN reports that the belief, early in the probe, will demand significant investigation. Evidence uncovered so far, including weapons and tactics seen on surveillance video, suggests the attack was planned. The FBI says some participants at the Trump rally at the Ellipse, outside the White House, left the event early, perhaps to retrieve weapons. They're also looking at travel and communications records to determine if they can build a case that is similar to a counterterrorism investigation. Corruption prosecutors and agents are also engaging in the hunt for wrongdoers, thanks to their expertise in financial investigations. The FBI reported that it has received more than 126,000 digital tips from the public regarding the attack on the Capitol.
The FBI is considering adding those who attacked the US Capitol last week to the federal no-fly list. When a person checks in for a flight, his or her reservation information is checked against the TSA's Secure Flight database. The procedure includes determining whether the traveler is on the no-fly list or selectee list. On Tuesday, congressional leaders called to keep rioters off planes after they said they remained mostly in the dark from the agencies that oversee the list. Much of how the lists work, including what qualifies a person for inclusion and how many people are listed, is classified as sensitive security information. The no-fly list began in the wake of the 9/11 attacks when the FBI provided the FAA a list of 125 people who should not be allowed on planes.
A QAnon leader who rioted at the US Capitol on Wednesday has been arrested. Business Insider reports the conspiracy-theory movement's 'Q Shaman' took photos on the Senate dais and marched through the Capitol with a megaphone. Three days later, Arizona resident Jake Angeli, whose real name is Jacob Anthony Chansley, was arrested and charged with federal crimes. Business Insider reports The man is known for appearing at pro-Trump events dressed in red, white, and blue face paint and a horned, furry helmet. QAnon has been feeding voter-fraud claims to President Donald Trump for months.
The NY Times reports that Pres. Elect Joe Biden plans to keep Christopher Wray on as FBI Director. A senior Biden official told The Times Biden was "not removing the FBI director unless Trump fired him." Business Insider speculated the move is part of the Biden team's broader effort to restore trust intelligence and justice systems. The institutions which have been in place to protect Americans has become overtly politicized under the Trump administration.