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Counterintelligence expert thinks Trump's Homeland Security suppressed bulletin on domestic terrorism threats
January 27, 2021
Former FBI deputy for counterintelligence, Frank Figliuzzi, addressed the Homeland Security bulletin issued Wednesday warning of possible continued terrorism from violent anti-government extremists like the ones who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Speaking to MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace, Figliuzzi began with positive news that this is a bulletin not an alert, which means there's nothing specifically planned soon.
The alert said that there have been increasing threats for the past year from violent domestic extremists motivated by COVID-19 lockdowns and mask mandates.
<p>"Here is the bad news," he continued. "This reflects a discovery of deeply entrenched radicalization in our society. As the agents are going through and arresting and executing search warrants against the insurrectionists, they're likely to discover evidence of bigger planning, a deeper sense of organization than they could have imagined. I know personally from my own observations that the chatter is continuing almost unabated, but this advisory is not only about what they know about what might happen, but it's also a fear of what they're not seeing."</p><p>The example he used was that many of these people are moving to use encrypted platforms that law enforcement officials can't see or monitor. </p><p>"That's a blind spot for them," he explained. "The other thing, this isn't just partnering with law enforcement. One, yeah, let's put national law enforcement on notice, the highway patrol officer who pulls someone over who yaks about hutting somebody in D.C., but it's also, if you see something, say something. We need that kind of posture as we had after 9/11."</p><p>Wallace asked about the bulletin itself, wondering since it has been going on for a year if law enforcement would have found it helpful to have the bulletin sooner. </p><p>"My sense, my gut, my experience tells me that when we heard the FBI say that we gave intelligence concerns about violence to the Capitol Police, the Capitol region," said Figliuzzi. "When we hear the Capitol Police produce their own intelligence report, that was even more troubling, and we saw the posture and presence we saw. My gut tells me someone was pulling those strings, and someone said, 'don't issue the warnings, don't get the posture up, don't scare people, don't interfere with what we have.' We need a truly independent commission to get us those answers."</p><p>See the discussion below: </p><p><br/></p>
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<span class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e918c0e594afacdf706785886c8c317c" style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" type="lazy-iframe" scrolling="no" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-5tsTbakwqo?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Counterintelligence expert</small>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5tsTbakwqo" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
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Trump told Kevin McCarthy that he bore some of the blame for the Capitol riot: Fox News
January 27, 2021
Former President Trump has scheduled a meeting with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, (R-CA) for this Thursday, so the two can discuss Trump's upcoming impeachment, Fox News reports. The meeting is set to take place in South Florida.
McCarthy opposed impeaching Trump but was open to a censure resolution. He has since criticized GOP conference chairwoman Liz Cheney's vote to impeach.
<p>According to a source speaking to Fox News, Trump told McCarthy that he bore some of the blame for the Capitol riot.</p><p>Read the full report over at <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-and-mccarthy-set-up-face-to-face-meeting-as-dems-weigh-impeachment-trial-options" target="_blank">Fox News</a>. </p>
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President Joe Biden reaffirmed Wednesday the United States' commitment to defend Japan in his first phone call with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, striking a note of reassurance after the Trump era.
During Donald Trump's administration, America's Asian allies often questioned whether Washington would uphold long-standing promises to defend them in the event of attack.
<p>Trump had publicly mulled withdrawing troops from Japan and South Korea, where more than 20,000 US military personnel are stationed to deter any North Korean military action.</p><p>Biden and Suga both urged denuclearization of the whole Korean peninsula in the call -- their first since Biden took office last week.</p><p>They discussed Washington's "unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan under Article 5 of our security treaty," the White House said, and Biden reaffirmed "his commitment to provide extended deterrence to Japan."</p><p>The US backing "includes the Senkaku Islands" -- an area claimed both by Japan and China, which calls the islands the Diaoyus, the statement said.</p><p>The leaders also "discussed regional security issues, including China and North Korea. They together affirmed the necessity of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."</p><p>Suga agreed to visit the United States as soon as possible, telling reporters in Japan after the call that the trip would be planned "while watching the coronavirus infection situation."</p><h1>'Engage with world again'</h1><p>The Jiji Press agency said the two leaders did not discuss the Tokyo Olympic Games, which were postponed until this year and could again be threatened by the Covid-19 pandemic.</p><p>US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also spoke Wednesday with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and stressed Biden's pledge to "engage with the world again," a State Department spokesman said.</p><p>America's clear mention of the Senkakus, an uninhabited island chain which has been a potential flashpoint for decades, is likely to cause anger in Beijing.</p><p>While Biden is making a clean break from many of Trump's policies, his team has pledged continuity on some diplomatic issues including taking a hard line on China.</p><p>The new US leader sat for decades on the Senate foreign relations committee -- traveling around the world meeting foreign leaders -- before serving as vice president to Barack Obama, who promoted America as a "Pacific power."</p><p>Trump during his time in power rattled Asian allies by picking trade fights with China, embracing North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and openly floating the possibility of withdrawing troops from the region.</p><p>Suga spoke to Biden in November after the US election and gave a stark warning that the security situation was "increasingly severe" in the Asia-Pacific region.</p>
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