New Senate Committee Report Criticizes FBI and DHS for Ignoring Intelligence Tips Prior to Capitol Attack
A new report by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has sharply criticized the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for their failure to believe intelligence tips leading up to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The report, titled “Planned in Plain Sight,” expands on previous findings and offers fresh examples of warnings and information that went unheeded.
The 105-page report accuses the FBI and DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis of failing to fully assess the severity of the threat and disseminate guidance to law enforcement partners with sufficient urgency. It highlights the agencies’ failure to believe the numerous warnings they received from nongovernmental organizations, the public, and their own field offices.
The report sheds new light on the different types of warnings the FBI received, including a previously unknown written warning issued by the New Orleans FBI office on January 5. The warning revealed that participants in the planned “stop the steal” protest had decided to establish an armed Quick Reaction Force in Northern Virginia. The report also noted that the FBI failed to convey the overall volume of threat information to its partners.
The report concludes that federal officials were biased toward discounting the possibility of such an unprecedented event and repeatedly downplayed the threat. It criticizes the DHS office tasked with analyzing intelligence for its reluctance to issue warnings related to January 6, partly due to criticism it had received for its handling of intelligence related to protests in the wake of George Floyd’s killing.
The report also highlights the finger-pointing among federal agencies in the aftermath of the riot, with Justice Department and FBI officials blaming the U.S. Capitol Police for their inability to control the mob. Capitol Police officials, on the other hand, argue that they did not receive urgent warnings from the FBI about possible violence.
The FBI has defended its efforts, stating that its goal is to disrupt and stay ahead of any threats. However, the report finds that the FBI did have intelligence regarding the attack but failed to believe it.
The Senate report is the latest in a series of findings about the January 6 attack, many of which have been critical of the FBI. The Justice Department inspector general, Michael Horowitz, has been investigating the events leading up to the storming of the Capitol for over two years but has yet to release his findings.
Following the riot, the DHS has testified to Congress about changes in its intelligence analysis, particularly regarding information available on social media. The agency is currently conducting a comprehensive organizational review of its intelligence office to better address homeland security threats.
The report suggests that federal officials were too focused on specific individuals planning acts of violence and failed to consider the volume of violent online conversations.
How could the FBI and DHS better utilize social media platforms to monitor and gather intelligence on potential threats?
Also criticizes the agencies for not fully utilizing social media platforms to monitor and gather intelligence on potential threats.
Additionally, the report highlights the lack of coordination and communication between the FBI and DHS leading up to the attack. It states that despite sharing the same goal of safeguarding the nation, the agencies failed to effectively collaborate and share critical information with each other, leading to a breakdown in response efforts.
The report emphasizes that the intelligence failure was not due to a lack of information, but rather a failure to properly assess and act upon it. It concludes that the FBI and DHS could have taken additional measures to prevent the attack if they had prioritized the intelligence they received and acted swiftly to address the potential threats.
In response to the report, the FBI and DHS have acknowledged the need for improvements. FBI Director Christopher Wray has pledged to implement reforms and ensure that intelligence is properly analyzed and shared with law enforcement partners. The DHS has also committed to enhancing its intelligence capabilities and strengthening its coordination efforts with other agencies.
The Senate committee’s report serves as a critical assessment of the FBI and DHS’s handling of intelligence leading up to the Capitol attack. It emphasizes the importance of effectively utilizing intelligence and collaboration between agencies to prevent future security threats. The findings and recommendations of the report will likely shape discussions and reforms within the FBI and DHS to prevent similar failures in the future.
This report sheds light on the critical failures in intelligence sharing that took place before the January 6th Capitol attack, emphasizing the need for immediate reforms to prevent such tragic events from happening again.