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u.s. news Diahuebs 28 Januari 2021

US terrorism alert warns of politically motivated violence

(AP) — The Department of Homeland Se- posed by extremists motivated by foreign terrorist
curity issued a national terrorism bulletin organizations.
Wednesday warning of the potential for lin-
gering violence from people motivated by an- “Information suggests that some ideologically-mo-
ti-government sentiment after President Joe tivated violent extremists with objections to the ex-
Biden's election, suggesting the Jan. 6 riot at ercise of governmental authority and the presiden-
the Capitol may embolden extremists and set tial transition, as well as other perceived grievances
the stage for additional attacks. fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobi-
lize to incite or commit violence,” the bulletin said.
The department did not cite a specific threat, but
pointed to “a heightened threat environment across It did not mention any ideological or political affili-
the United States” that it believes “will persist” for ation, while noting the potential for violence from
weeks after Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration. “a broad range of ideologically-motivated actors.”

It is not uncommon for the federal government The alert comes at a tense time after the riot at the
to warn local law enforcement through bulletins Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald
about the prospect for violence tied to a particular Trump who were seeking to overturn the presi-
date or event, such as July 4. dential election. DHS also noted violent riots in new but that deaths attributed to them in recent
“recent days,” an apparent reference to events in years in the U.S. have exceeded those linked to ji-
But this particular bulletin, issued through the the Portland, Oregon, linked to anarchist groups. hadists such as al-Qaida. “We have to be candid and
department’s National Terrorism Advisory System, face what the real risk is,” he said.
is notable because it effectively places the Biden The alert was issued by acting Homeland Security
administration into the politically charged debate Secretary David Pekoske. Biden’s nominee for the Federal authorities have charged more than 150
over how to describe or characterize acts motivated Cabinet post, Alejandro Mayorkas, has not been people in the Capitol siege, including some with
by political ideology and suggests that it sees vio- confirmed by the Senate. links to right-wing extremist groups such as the
lence aimed at overturning the election as akin to Three Percenters and the Oath Keepers.
terrorism. Two former homeland security secretaries, Mi-
chael Chertoff and Janet Napolitano, called on the The Justice Department announced charges
The wording of the document suggests that na- Senate to confirm Mayorkas so he can start work- Wednesday against 43-year Ian Rogers, a California
tional security officials see a connective thread be- ing with the FBI and other agencies and deal with man found with five pipe bombs during a search of
tween recent violence over the last year motivated the threat posed by domestic extremists, among his business this month who had a sticker associ-
by anti-government grievances, whether over CO- other issues. ated with the Three Percenters on his vehicle. His
VID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results and lawyer told his hometown newspaper, The Napa
police use of force. It also singles out racially mo- Chertoff, who served under President George W. Valley Register, that he is a “very well-respected
tivated acts of violence such as the 2019 rampage Bush, said in a conference call with reporters that small business owner, father, and family man” who
targeting Hispanics in Texas, as well as the threat attacks by far-right, domestic extremists are not does not belong to any violent organizations.

Man pleads guilty in conspiracy to kidnap Michigan governor

(AP) — One of six men charged in an alleged a few hours after a plea agreement loaded with de- house” to resemble Whitmer's vacation home and
plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whit- tails about the operation was filed, including his “assaulting it with firearms,” the plea deal states.
mer pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy, pledge to fully cooperate with investigators. There
admitting that the group discussed an in- was no agreement on a sentencing range, but his The men also made trips to Antrim County to
credible scheme to snatch her at her lakeside assistance could help him when he returns July 8. study the home and the area, Garbin said.
vacation home and destroy a bridge to slow
down police. The FBI in October said it broke up a plot to kid- Garbin said he sent a text message to someone who
nap Whitmer, a Democrat, by anti-government turned out to be a government informant, indicat-
Ty Garbin’s guilty plea is a major catch for pros- extremists upset over coronavirus restrictions she ing that “if the bridge goes down it will stop the
ecutors, only about four months after arrests were had imposed in Michigan. Six people were charged wave,” a suggestion that police would be delayed in
made. His testimony could strengthen the govern- in federal court while eight others were charged in responding to a kidnapping if a nearby bridge was
ment’s case against the others and back up evidence state court with aiding them. blown up.
collected by informants and undercover agents.
U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker went through He said he also offered to paint his boat black for
Garbin appeared in federal court in Grand Rapids a series of questions about Garbin's rights and his another night of surveillance.
willingness to plead guilty.
Last fall, defense attorney Mark Satawa said Garbin
When the judge asked if he had second thoughts, had no intention to carry out a kidnapping, no mat-
Garbin replied: “I do not, your honor." ter what he might have said in recorded or online
conversations. But outside court Wednesday, he
In the plea agreement, Garbin, 25, of Hartland, said Garbin believed a guilty plea was the “right
acknowledged more than six pages of stunning al- thing to do.”
legations. He said he and others trained with weap-
ons in Munith, Michigan, and Cambria, Wiscon- “This is about our client saying, ‘Look, I need to
sin, last summer and “discussed the plan to storm own up to what I did. It was wrong. I’m accept-
the Capitol and kidnap the governor.” ing responsibility. I’m sorry for having done it,’"
Satawa told reporters.
The plot, he said, eventually switched to Whitmer's
second home in Antrim County. The other defendants are Adam Fox, Barry Croft
Jr., Kaleb Franks, Daniel Harris and Brandon
Garbin said he “advocated waiting until after the Caserta. A trial has been scheduled for March 23.
national election, when the conspirators expected
widespread civil unrest to make it easier for them “I'm sure his fellow codefendants are extremely
to operate.” nervous about this and may also rethink their legal
strategies as a result,” said Javed Ali, a counterter-
In September, the six men trained at Garbin's prop- rorism expert and visiting instructor at the Univer-
erty near Luther, Michigan, constructing a “shoot sity of Michigan.