Democrats say police briefed them on plot by armed extremists to surround the US Capitol on Inauguration Day



House Democrats say they've been briefed by Capitol Police about potential organized violence planned in Washington, D.C., for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration.

According to Democratic lawmakers who have spoken to the media, at least one plot involves a plan to take members of Congress hostage or even assassinate them as part of an insurrection against the U.S. government.

Reports by HuffPost and others indicate Democratic lawmakers were told of three planned demonstrations that could possibly lead to violence. One demonstration was billed as the "largest armed protest ever to take place on American soil," according to members of Congress who spoke to HuffPost anonymously.

A second protest will reportedly be held to honor Ashli Babbitt, the woman killed by Capitol Police during the Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.

The third reported plot is a planned insurrection against Congress to remove Democrats from power.

Rep. Conor Lamb (D-Penn.) on Tuesday told CNN he was briefed on this plan, which involves thousands of armed "patriots" who intend to surround the Capitol building and prevent Democratic lawmakers from entering the building.

"They were talking about 4,000 armed 'patriots' to surround the Capitol and prevent any Democrat from going in," Lamb said. "They have published rules of engagement, meaning when you shoot and when you don't. So this is an organized group that has a plan. They are committed to doing what they're doing because I think in their minds, you know, they are patriots and they're talking about 1776 and so this is now a contest of wills."

"We are not negotiating with or reasoning with these people. They have to be prosecuted. They have to be stopped. And unfortunately, that includes the president, which is why he needs to be impeached and removed from office," he added.

The reported briefing of Democratic lawmakers by Capitol Police follows a warning issued by the FBI that armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from Saturday through at least Jan. 20, the day President-elect Joe Biden will be inaugurated as the 46th president.

According to ABC News reporter Aaron Katersky, the FBI received information that a group, who is known to the FBI but was not named publicly, has threatened members of Congress that attempts to impeach President Donald Trump or otherwise remove him from office via the 25th Amendment will be met by a "huge uprising."

It is not clear if any Republican lawmakers received a briefing from law enforcement on planned violence at the Capitol on and around Inauguration Day. TheBlaze reached out to Capitol Police and several Republican lawmakers for clarification and comment but did not receive a response.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a statement condemning planned violence.

"In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind," the president said. "That is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers. Thank You"

FBI warns 'armed protests' are being planned in all 50 states ahead of Inauguration Day



The FBI is warning that armed protests are being planned at state capitols across the country in advance of Inauguration Day.

What are the details?

In a Monday bulletin obtained by ABC News, the federal law enforcement agency stated: "Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the US Capitol from 17 January through 20 January."

The news was first reported by ABC News investigative reporter Aaron Katersky, who said that in recent days the FBI has received the information about an undisclosed group calling for the "storming" of state, local and federal government buildings in the event President Trump is removed from office before Jan. 20.

"Armed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the… https://t.co/nSVsTlP0iM
— Aaron Katersky (@Aaron Katersky)1610384020.0

In a follow-up tweet, Katersky noted that the FBI has also "received information about an identified armed group intending to travel to Washington, DC on 16 January."

"They have warned that if Congress attempts to remove POTUS via the 25th Amendment a huge uprising will occur," he said, per the bulletin.

The FBI has "received information about an identified armed group intending to travel to Washington, DC on 16 Janua… https://t.co/CyWV2j6VnP
— Aaron Katersky (@Aaron Katersky)1610384376.0

Federal law enforcement agencies have reportedly advise state police departments to be on high alert and bolster their security forces at government buildings to guard against potential attacks.

The armed protests are expected to mimic the riot that took place in Washington, D.C., last Wednesday, when pro-Trump agitators breached security perimeters and invaded the U.S. Capitol.

So far, five people have died as a result of the shocking incident, including one Capitol Police officer who was struck in the head during a confrontation with rioters. About 60 officers were injured in the siege, with more than a dozen hospitalized.

What else?

On Monday, House Democrats formally introduced a single article of impeachment against President Trump, arguing that he "willfully incited violence against the government" by maintaining the presidential election was fraudulent and rousing supporters to protest its certification.

Just before the storming of the Capitol last Wednesday, Trump delivered a fiery speech to hundreds of thousands of supporters who were gathered in Washington, D.C., in protest of the election results. In the speech, he charged supporters to march over "to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make [their] voices heard," though he never ordered them to be physically violent.

In the wake of the Capitol siege, however, Democrats have placed blame for the violence squarely on Trump's shoulders and have called for him to be removed from office. Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) even gave the president an ultimatum: Resign immediately or face impeachment.

Now, according to the FBI, some of Trump's diehard supporters are threatening violence to ensure that doesn't happen.