Leahy hears that authorities knew extremists might instigate violence at Capitol riots

U.S. Army National Guard/Michelle Gonzalez

HEARING THE TRUTH?: While many Vermont politicians believed former President Donal Trump incited riots on Jan. 6 by saying “fight and show strength,” Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., continues to hear evidence that anti-Trump provocateurs were involved.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., on Tuesday heard lawmakers and law enforcement say there was foreknowledge that members of anti-Trump extremist groups would be at the infamous Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

During a meeting of the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Rules Committee, Leahy asked former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund why police weren’t ready for the swarm of people who breached the Capitol building and proceeded to vandalize it.

“I really wonder why we didn’t take this seriously enough to be prepared for them,” Leahy said. “The hours it took to bring in the National Guard, and everything else. … You said there wasn’t enough intelligence there, but in the same letter you stated that the intelligence assessment I’m quoting here indicated that members of the Proud Boys, white supremacist groups, Antifa and other extremist groups were expected to participate in the January 6 event, and they may be inclined to become violent. How much more intelligence do we need than that?”

Leahy asserted that he believes the attacks were coordinated.

“I look at the lives that were lost, the police who fought, who protected our capitol,” he said. “We saw this as a violent, and I would say planned and organized attack on the United States and the United States government by domestic terrorists. I hope that they all will be prosecuted as fully as they can.”

Leahy added because Trump urged his supporters that day to “fight and show strength,” that means that Trump deserves blame for the riots.

Sund said Capitol Police had planned for “the possibility of violence and the possibility of some people being armed,” but he added that they did not anticipate “a coordinated military-style attack involving thousands against the capitol.”

Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., shared a Capitol riot eyewitness account by the Center for Security Policy analyst J. Michael Waller. According to that account, the vast majority of Trump supporters on Jan .6 were strongly in support of the Capitol Police, and the violence was started by small groups that did not appear to be sincere Trump supporters.

“The pro-police crowd went from disbelief and confusion to anger [when the violence started],” Johnson read. ” … The last five pages is titled, ‘Provocateurs Turn Unsuspecting Marchers into Invading Mob.'”

Johnson added that he has a long list of questions in a letter he gave to committee Chair Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich. regarding what really happened.

“[I am] hoping that you will ask these questions and investigate these issues, and I’ll be listening,” he said.

Johnson’s questions may not get answered. As Peters recently said in a statement regarding Trump’s second impeachment acquittal, “Trump violated his oath of office by inciting a violent, deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol and our democracy.”

Johnson asked Sund if law enforcement anticipated a breach of security.

“A breach of the capital is not something anybody anticipated,” Sund responded. “Nor do I think some of our federal partners expected it. I don’t think Secret Service would have brought up the vice president if they expected it.”

One federal partner did know something. The Washington Post reported that the FBI’s field office in Norfolk, Virginia, warned law enforcement on Jan. 5 that extremists could attack the nation’s capital. This warning included knowledge of conspirators distributing a map of the city’s tunnels and meeting points where they could gather.

Later on, Leahy suggested that the military presence in Washington, D.C., may continue for the foreseeable future.

“I think until we root out the hate that drove the rioters through the doors that day, no fence or tank or barrier is going to provide the safety we need,” he said.

The Vermont senator also acknowledged that safety comes with a tradeoff. At one point he referenced the words of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin: “Those who give up a piece of liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

Michael Bielawski is a reporter for True North. Send him news tips at bielawski82@yahoo.com and follow him on Twitter @TrueNorthMikeB.

Image courtesy of U.S. Army National Guard/Michelle Gonzalez

36 thoughts on “Leahy hears that authorities knew extremists might instigate violence at Capitol riots

  1. So this commie is telling they knew what was going to happen, and old Nancy who is in charge of the capitol police did nothing to stop them, and even allowed the police to unlock and open the doors for those who entered. — If patrick worked for me, I’d fire him for being stupid.

  2. Leahy: “Members of the Proud Boys, white supremacist groups, Antifa, BLM, CRT, and other extremist groups, were expected to participate in the January 6 event”
    http://www.truenorthreports.com/leahy-hears-that-authorities-knew-extremists-might-instigate-violence-at-capitol-riots

    The Trump rally was 2 miles from the Capitol Building
    He never told folks to march onto the Capitol, etc.

    The events were a side show following the usual, very orderly, very enthusiastic Trump rally
    Why would these pro-Dem/Prog, violent, leftist, groups even be there, other than to egg-on others to instigate mayhem and violence?
    They were not there as observers, as shown on videos

    Leahy: “I look at the lives that were lost, the police who fought, who protected our capitol,” he said. “We (who is we?) saw this as a violent, and I would say planned and organized attack on the United States and the United States government by domestic terrorists. I hope that they all will be prosecuted as fully as they can.”

    Why were none of the pro-Dem/Prog leftist folks arrested, and “prosecuted as fully as they can”?
    The all-of-a-sudden-diligent FBI arrested hundreds of pro-Trump folks
    DOUBLE STANDARD?

    These leftist pro-Dem/Progs groups were egging on, i.e., aiding and abetting, the Trump folks, as shown on videos.
    The woke FBI had plenty of evidence to arrest them as well.

    Pelosi is in charge of defending the Capitol, by US law.
    Pelosi committed malfeasance in office by purposely delaying calling in the National Guard BEFORE any riots even started.
    Pelosi ALSO knew what Leahy and others knew, i.e., that riots would occur, because of a stolen election.
    Pelosi thought, hey, the more mayhem the better.
    I will blame ALL of it on Trump.
    I will have a Commission to investigate it, come hell or high water.
    I will include two hate-Trump RINOs on my Commission

  3. The only way to get U.S. Senators to represent the people of their respective state is to repeal the 17th amendment so the state’s general assembly elects them. Then of course people need to elect state representatives and state senators that represent their needs. It all comes back to the voters not letting the big special-interest money governor who gets elected, but the more local (small) and election is, the less impact such money has. So putting the power of electing U.S. Senators back in the general assembly, whose members are elected in smaller, more local races, shifts power from the agenda-driven special interests to the voters in the respective state. I beat agenda special-interest money in two elections and I see no reason to think that cannot still be done. I do not think getting elected in Vermont is the big hurdle, but rather it is finding people with solid understanding and backbone who can also afford to serve in Vermont’s extraordinarily long legislative sessions. Those long sessions are why I did not win a third term – they prevented me from running a third time. We only ran for the second term because of all so many did in helping give the first win. We felt we owned those exceptional Vermonters two terms for their work. But it was a very costly decision, which took over a decade to recover financially. That is the real hurdle, but it is never really taken seriously. Little Vermont needs no more than a 2 month session the first year of each biennium and just a 2 week budget adjustment session the second year. If a full slate of House and Senate candidates ran with that as a key platform, there would be some real hope for changing Vermont … because you would have busy people who live in the competitive marketplace – the real world – running and then if 50% +1 were victorious you would see a real change in priorities. Vermont would no longer be mainly about national and global political power, but rather about making life better for Vermonters. At that point you would have a legislature that would elect people with solid understanding and a commitment to Vermont to the U.S. Senate. U.S Senators were intended to work for their respective states, not political agendas.

  4. Leahy: “….members of the Proud Boys, white supremacist groups, Antifa, BLM, CRT, and other extremist groups, were expected to participate in the January 6 event”

    The Trump rally was 2 miles from the Capitol Building
    He never told folks to march onto the Capitol, etc.

    The events were a side show following the usual, very orderly, very enthusiastic Trump rally
    Why would these pro-Dem/Prog, violent, leftist, groups even be there, other than to egg-on others to instigate mayhem and violence?
    They were not there as observers, as shown on videos

    Leahy: “I look at the lives that were lost, the police who fought, who protected our capitol,” he said. “We (who is we?) saw this as a violent, and I would say planned and organized attack on the United States and the United States government by domestic terrorists. I hope that they all will be prosecuted as fully as they can.”

    Why were none of the pro-Dem/Prog leftist folks arrested, and “prosecuted as fully as they can”?
    The all-of-a-sudden diligent FBI arrested hundreds of pro-Trump folks
    DOUBLE STANDARD?

    These leftist pro-Dem/Progs groups were egging on, i.e., aiding and abetting, the Trump folks, as shown on videos.
    The woke FBI had plenty of evidence to arrest them as well.

    Pelosi is a sly, very-practiced, double-dealer

    Pelosi is in charge of defending the Capitol, by US law.
    Pelosi committed malfeasance in office by purposely delaying the calling in the National Guard BEFORE any riots even started.
    Pelosi ALSO knew what you and others knew, i.e., that riots would occur, because of a stolen election.
    Pelosi thought, hey, the more mayhem the better.
    I will blame ALL of it on Trump.
    I will have a Commission to investigate it, come hell or high water.
    I will put Leahy in charge of my Commission.
    I will include two hate-Trump RINOs on my Commission

    Here is an example of election stealing executed MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION

    PREPARATION OF 288,000 MAIL-IN BALLOTS IN BETHPAGE, NY FOR USE IN PENNSYLVANIA MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION
    https://www.windtaskforce.org/profiles/blogs/preperation-of-288-000-mail-in-ballots-in-bethpage-ny-for-use-in

    This article describes a multi-month project, started about August 2020, to fabricate up to 288,000 mail-in ballots near Bethpage, Long Island, NY, for use during the 2020 Election in Pennsylvania, a swing state.

    This article is a work in progress, because of on-going developments.

    Folks should know this huge, premeditated, 288,000-vote fraud took place several months BEFORE the election.
    It likely was not the only premeditated fraud.

    The Pennsylvania 2020 Election counted 6,835,903 votes
    2020 turnout was 70.93%, i.e., about 9,637,534 NAMES ON REGISTERED VOTER LISTS
    NON-VOTERS were about 2,801,631
    The Bethpage fraud used only 10.3% of the NON-VOTERS

    The Bethpage fraud used only 10.3% of the NON-VOTERS to manufacture 288,000 mail-in ballots in envelopes MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION, AS INSURANCE, in case Trump would be too far ahead.

    BTW, Biden “won” Pennsylvania by 80,555 votes

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_United_States_presidential_election_in_Pennsylvania
    https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/11/17/pennsylvania-2020-election-voter-turnout/

  5. I wonder if Dominion wasn’t used in three major counties where votes were highest for Biden, if Trump would’ve won? The sham audit by a vested interest stands at this point: s’all cool folks.
    Do Vermonters still have a voice/choice to give consent – are we even asked?
    I grew up reading American history touted out of the 40s, and tarring and feathering and running out of town on a post was a regular event when politicians eschewed their constituents. It was an immediate consequence they could expect if they betrayed their/our confidence.
    Now, there is no accountability or oversight.
    Leahy does because he can, a true patriarch of the old order.
    Make no mistake – he IS the most powerful man in Congress right now – and that means his hands are in everything that is going on right now to take away our rights.
    Without his approval, nothing happens.
    The fact that he is in this position is because that is what he wanted, so he got it.
    From here, he can steer the ship from getting in the hands of nincompoops again, he thinks.
    I’m afraid that ship already has a few holes in it, and he’s not making friends here in Vermont.
    There’s a reason why politicians sequester themselves out of state…isn’t there?

  6. The FBI had information because they were engaged in entrapment just like the attempt to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
    Also, it’s curious that there seems to be a few of these capitol police are committing suicide.

  7. Patty and the the other stooges knew well before the 6th that there was a possibility of violence. Did they accept the offer of help from Trump? NO, they ignored the intel and now they can sit on their high horses and claim plausible deniability!
    They cant / shouldn’t be trusted and need to be retired if not charged with abetting.

  8. Thank you. Mike, for reporting on this. We need more True North style reporters. Hope you’ll infiltrate the MSM reporting world that overshadows Vermont

  9. I watched 5 hours on TV. The Trump supporter were in HUGE numbers and dressed in colorful street clothes. Watching them move was like watching a slow moving river. TV showed that well.
    But TV loves violence, so after the first shove, they rarely showed the peaceful Republicans. Around 4 pm the peaceful began to move like a slow moving river back to their transportation to go home. They had shown Congress their determination and strength – peacefully.

    Then came the thugs, dressed in drab military clothing, HELMETS, full back packs, 2 way radios, truncheons. climbing gear, Military tactics complete, sprays, flash bangs, tools clubs. full riot gear and equipment.
    NO CHANCE there was a Republican doing violence in that hoard.!!!

    Clearly Trump haters, Clearly hoping Biden would win – yeah!!
    Free rides for all who would take down America by hook or crook!

  10. Surface politics: bad Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and threatened all America.

    What really happened: Trump fell into a well-laid trap that would help turn Americans against him and his supporters and segue into calls for cancelling “misinformation” that led to such disgraceful acts. It would also distract attention from voting irregularities.

    We all know such things happen.

    Why was there such a light police presence with no backup despite that all of downtown Washington was boarded up for fear of violence? Don’t give us that “we really didn’t think there would be a problem” BS. It all went down exactly as planned. What we really need to know, which Leahy and friends will not find out, is: who were the chief architects? That info is buried deep.

    “The hate that drove the rioters through the doors that day.” Well now, there’s our answer, right? Those nasty, hate-filled Trump supporters is what done it. We’ll not be safe until we root out those domestic terrorists: that’s the story for the newspapers.

    My guess is that the vast majority of protesters were very much like the busload that came from Vermont. I doubt very much that those were the ones with the climbing gear and the clubs.

  11. I’m willing to bet that the ‘Three Stooges’ of our congressional delegation never see anything written to them from Vermonters, unless it involves blowing sunshine up their pants legs. Vermont’s three political hacks are surrounded by ranks of dim witted, twinkly-eyed minions who intercept and make up responses to any correspondence sent. Hell, I’m willing to bet that the entire democrat contingency in Washington DC is working out of the same prepared response book to the myriad of questions constituents might ask. The legislation they introduce or support is written by lobbyists; their letters are prepared by staffers; and their talking points are basically orders handed down from on high to be used as needed. Their party does not encourage original thought. And as the hearings concerning the January 6 , 2021 capital riots are disclosing what really happened, for God’s sake, don’t confound and confuse them with the truth and the facts–their heads are liberal to explode…

      • To include what the three stooges have made being in US Congress and as said, doesn’t include the perks.
        Leahy: $5,626,462.50 (1975-2021)
        Sanders: $1,601,400 + $2,596,400 = $4,197,800 (1991-2021)
        Welch: $3,988,500 (2007-2021)
        TOTAL: $13,812,762.50 (1975 to 2021)

        This is from the above link summed up. If you can’t financially survive on your own wits, get elected. This fact also includes those in Montpelier.

      • Everything you said is right on.. Too many think Leahy is so wonderful.. yeah in a pig’s ear. He was selling off Vermont to foreigners with a bright sparkly green card ” give us 1/2 a million or more and you will get a shiny green card which will make you a citizen, Sanders, Welch, Shumlin, and Scott were all in on it and took part of the money pot. Even the legislation was in on the crooked deal.. you all know it..

  12. This past week was the birthday of the greatest of all the Presidents of our Republic, George Washington. If our nation has had a reason for its success, it is largely due to the example set by our first President who put virtue and his country ahead of any desire for personal power. Washington hated party politics and the way they blinded people to the truth in attempts to defend their side.

    In his Farewell Address he wrote: “The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissention has perpetrated the most horrible enormities. The disorder and miseries which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purpose of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.”

    • John,

      Washington must be cancelled, statues taken down, pictures removed, etc., because he was a slave owner, and so was Jefferson.

      Hell, why not cancel all of US history, and start with Obama

      • Willem,
        Ah yes. The danger when we let our passions get the best of us is that we neglect to see things in a historical context. Fortunately, the founders of our Republic included provisions for Amendments of the Constitution. This has allowed our country to move forward from the 18th century, and address the shortcomings of that age by becoming ever more inclusive and just. The 13th and 14th Amendments outlawing slavery and expanding the rights of citizenship to African-Americans and the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote are among the most prominent examples.

        We are part of a glorious experiment in self-government. We all, as citizens of this Republic, are beneficiaries of sacrifices made in the past and bear great a great responsibility in using this gift prudently and wisely and if at all possible, fine tuning it and not damaging it, as we try to fit our age and understanding.

        • So that means that we’ll do a red-team scrutiny of this past presidential election, right, to ensure that the people’s voice is always accurately counted?

          Or does that mean that “there’s nothing to see here” and that all accusations of election irregularities are unfounded?

          Our Constitution means little if we cancel the voices, and votes, of the Unworthy. I have many friends on the left who I have absolutely no doubt would have cancelled Trump votes if they could. These are good, honest people who’ve been infected by the manufactured virus of TDS.

          • Jim = John Freitag conjoined siamese twin – red pill version. must create own ‘conservative’ friend(s) after alienating community as is the wont of diabolical Democrats.

        • Passions getting the best of us? Like the passions engendered by TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome)? I’ve seen this first-hand. No amount of reasoning can convince these people that Trump didn’t say to drink bleach, even though he didn’t. No amount of facts can convince them that he’s opposed to White Supremacy.

    • What a tangled web we weave much lol. Blue-pilled John created Red-pilled Jim as sleeper sockpuppet as counterpunch to making lots of enemies due to choosing unsubstantive contrarian position, complete with deceptive commentary and refusal to answer questions or provide sources when asked. Routine dishonesty and rank hypocrisy along with smooth silver-tounged sophistry has defined activity.

      Needs a conservative ‘friend’ to converse with as the ones replying are either extremely negative or point out the aforementioned. I can count on one finger a commenter who replies generously ignoring troll position.

      Anyone involved with blogosphere, chat rooms and comment platforms recognizes this as classic infamous internet trolling behavior. It is also done to create accounts which heap praise upon resident contrarians who wish to appear accepted while posting positions which serve own agenda and not the mission of the website and to vastly inflate influence and acceptence of message. Follow the ‘money’ lol.

      Typically unverifiable mysterious accounts starting as infrequent one-comment drive-bys as a sleeper account. Once accepted or ignored is used to bolster and/or simultaneously ‘disagree’ but goal is to create oasis in self-created hostile environment or to inflate their message w self-created coterie of ‘friends’.

      If one does not wish to be considered as such – may I suggest not channeling aforementioned behavior as it is destructive to the soul of internet communities – forewarned is forearmed.

  13. Any average idiot knew that there was a potential for bad things to happen that day and that based on the past few years, the violence would not be from Trump supporters but fakes. The fact that the National Guard wasn’t there to combat any uprisings makes it fairly obvious that the Dems wanted something to happen so they could further their anti-Trump attacks; pretty straight forward. Everything is a lie and a sham.

  14. Of course, they knew there was going to be issues, even DJT requested that the
    National Guard be called in, DemocRATs, I assume Pelosi denied the request as
    anything to make Trump look bad….. how pathetic….now that’s unity, right Joe !!

    There were hundreds of thousands that attended the rally ” peacefully “, but it
    turned into a sad day and those ” Goons ” destroyed the Capitol, what a shame
    and all involved should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law and those that
    funded this fiasco should also be held accountable.

    All this because of a fraud election, and a sham impeachment, that’s why the Chief
    Justice didn’t show, he knew it had no validity, Leahy should hold his head in shame,
    but he thinks it’s a feather in his cap……….. .

    • Senator Lehey is certainly singing a new song and perhaps trying to cover for his own gross misjudgment in seating himself to sit as Judge officiating the sham impeachment hearing after Justice Robert’s appropriately refused.

      Before the impeachment hearing I emailed our Senator Lehey asking him under what authority he volunteered to sit in place of the Supreme Court Justice as is required in the Constitution. i asked our Senator Lehey, as a fellow member of the Vermont Bar, to please explain to me his legal authority to sit on what was slated as an impeachment hearing. I have not found he even attempted to reply.
      I personally feel defrauded by our Senator’s lack of respect for our Constitution and his lack of candor to me and every citizen in this Country.

      • Judy:
        This has been building for a while. Long story short, Leahy has been in D C for way too long. He is in good company with the current President, who both suffer from the same disorders.

  15. Someone needs to ask Pat why he why he allowed doctored evidence to be introduced into the most sacred structure in our capital and why he did not penalize the impeachment managers for using such fraudulent measures.

    These people are a pack of liars.

    These are the same people that allow congressman Eric swalwell to remain on the intelligence committee beside Peter Welch congressman from Vermont without calling from his removal in spite of the fact he was sleeping with a Chinese spy.

    Patrick Leahy and Peter Welch and Bernie Sanders are a disgrace to anyone with an ounce of intelligence in the state of Vermont.

    Someone needs to also ask Mr Leahy where he claims his residence to be and where he actually resides.

    • Please please please write Leahy and tell him exactly what you wrote here. I agree 100%. I also wrote him and asked him why he didn’t have enough integrity to not be part of such a profoundly dishonest process. Presented with a case where the defendant was not allowed to defend himself. Lead by a person who would never even make it into the jury pool of this case if it was in a court of law, never mind heading it up. Then evidence was presented that also would never see the inside of a courtroom. Please write him and copy Bernie and Pat. I’ve written them as well. Only two words to describe all three – Liars, liars and a third word to describe them . . . Liars!

      • Karen,
        I’ll be surprised if you get an answer from anyone our DC elected officials,
        if you do, I bet it won’t be on the topic you mentioned !!

        • CHenry and Karen you are both right. The 3 AMIGOS only care about their pockets and overseas accounts. All 3 should wipe their lips off from kissing a$$es so much in DC. Leahy mow lives in Va, Leahy has 5 + homes and little boy Welchy well who knows where he sleeps. Leahy has had strokes and should be in a nursing home, Sanders is another one who has had a stroke.It should be when they have been in office 10 yrs they shouldn’t be allowed to run again/ TERM LIMITS !!!

    • Leahy sure isn’t in Vermont anymore hasn’t been for a long time. years….

      How can he be a Vermont Senator if he doesn’t reside here??? oh that’s right he’s a senile demoncRAT..The only time he comes to VT is when he is going to be on TV or in the paper.
      The 3 AMIGOS need to be GONE. The senile old fart, the commie, and the little coward

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