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The federal government has expressed concerns about potential violence and significant civil disturbances in anticipation of the upcoming election, prompting a drastic measure. Newsweek's exclusive report today reveals that the FBI is closely monitoring supporters of former President Donald Trump as the 2024 U.S. presidential election draws nearer.
In response to this, a discreet new category of extremists has been established, specifically focusing on the followers of Donald Trump who identify with the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement.
An FBI official, speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the subject, stated, "The FBI is in an almost impossible position." The official emphasized that the FBI's primary objective is to prevent domestic terrorism and any potential recurrence of events similar to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
However, a substantial portion of their ongoing "anti-government" investigations is reportedly related to Trump supporters, according to classified data obtained by Newsweek.
The unnamed official stressed that while the FBI is committed to preventing events like the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, they must also safeguard the constitutional rights of all Americans, including the rights to campaign, express their views freely, and protest the government.
"Especially at a time when the White House is facing allegations from Congressional Republicans that the Biden administration has 'weaponized' the Bureau against right-wing individuals, it has to proceed with great caution," the official remarked.
In a statement provided to Newsweek, the FBI clarified its position, stating, "The threat posed by domestic violent extremists is persistent, evolving, and deadly. The FBI’s goal is to detect and stop terrorist attacks, and our focus is on potential criminal violations, violence, and threats of violence. Anti-government or anti-authority violent extremism is one category of domestic terrorism, as well as one of the FBI’s top threat priorities."
Furthermore, the FBI stated, "We are committed to protecting the safety and constitutional rights of all Americans and will never open an investigation based solely on First Amendment protected activity, including a person’s political beliefs or affiliations."
Newsweek's reported:
Newsweek spoke to over a dozen current or former government officials who specialize in terrorism in a three-month investigation to understand the current domestic-security landscape and to evaluate what President Joe Biden’s administration is doing about what it calls domestic terrorism. Most requested anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly, were reluctant to stray into partisan politics or feared the repercussions of speaking frankly.
Newsweek has also reviewed secret FBI and Department of Homeland Security data that track incidents, threats, investigations and cases to try to build a better picture. While experts agree that the current partisan environment is charged and uniquely dangerous (with the threat not only of violence but, in the most extreme scenarios, possibly civil war), many also question whether “terrorism” is the most effective way to describe the problem, or that the methods of counterterrorism developed over the past decade in response to Al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups constitute the most fruitful way to craft domestic solutions…
From the president down, the Biden administration has presented Trump and MAGA as an existential threat to American democracy and talked up the risk of domestic terrorism and violence associated with the 2024 election campaign.
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