US Unveils Domestic Terror Unit
By Stefan J. Bos Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – The U.S. Department of Justice is creating a new unit to counter “domestic terrorism” from mainly “anti-government” activists and “white supremacists.”
The unit was unveiled after the first anniversary of the January 6 invasion of the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. by rioters claiming to be supporters of then-President Donald J. Trump.
Attackers stormed the building and forced lawmakers to flee, temporarily halting the transfer of power to President Joe Biden after elections that Trump said were tainted by fraud.
Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen told the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday that he “decided to establish a domestic terrorism unit to augment our existing approach.”
Olsen cited last year’s attack during the joint session of the U.S. Congress in the Capitol as an example of domestic Terrorist challenges faced by his Department.
He claimed that the threat of domestic terrorism from “extremist” individuals and groups is growing.
RACIAL ANIMUS
“We’ve seen a growing threat from those who are motivated by racial animus as well as those who ascribe to extremist anti-government and anti-authority ideologies,” he warned.
Olsen did not address concerns about violent activists within the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and its calls to defund the police.
BLM activists were linked to, in some cases, deadly violence following the 2020 murder of the Black man George Floyd by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin.
Olsen also said that the threat of domestic terrorism from “extremist” individuals and groups is growing.
“We’ve seen a growing threat from those who are motivated by racial animus as well as those who ascribe to extremist anti-government and anti-authority ideologies,” he said.
Critics have accused the Biden administration of cracking down on conservative values and ideas.
DOMESTIC EXTREMISTS
However, U.S. security officials defended their policies, saying “domestic extremists” represent a threat compared to that posed by foreign militant groups such as Islamic State.
“We face an elevated threat from domestic violent extremists. That is, individuals in the United States who seek to commit violent criminal acts in furtherance of domestic social or political goals,” Olsen stressed.
The Justice Department says it has brought criminal charges against more than 725 people stemming from January 6, 2021, riot in the Capitol.
Some of the defendants are members or associated with far-right groups, including the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers, and the Three Percenters, according to U.S. officials.
And with concerns about domestic terrorism growing, many more arrests were expected.
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