SC law enforcement agencies warned of possible armed protests before Biden swearing-in
The FBI has warned South Carolina’s top law enforcement agency of the potential for armed protests in the state capital in the coming days starting this weekend or earlier and lasting through the Jan. 20 presidential inauguration.
In South Carolina, the State Law Enforcement Division told media outlets Monday that the department has “received information from the FBI regarding potential armed protests” in all 50 of the nation’s capitals.
“We are and have been in constant communications with our federal, state and local partners about this information and are prepared to provide any necessary assistance as requested,” the SLED statement said.
The Associated Press reported Monday that the FBI had warned law enforcement departments in all 50 states and in Washington of potential armed protests in the days ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s swearing-in. The concerns follow the Capitol riots last Wednesday, after a violent mob stormed the federal government building, sending lawmakers and staff into hiding.
Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died during the riots.
A second Capitol police officer who responded to the riot last Wednesday died while off duty.
In an internal FBI memo obtained by CNN, the network said protests were planned in all 50 state capitols from Jan. 16-20, and included information that a group was calling for “storming” government buildings and threatening Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California.
The FBI has launched a nationwide manhunt and has already arrested some 90 people.
The state’s Department of Public Safety, an umbrella agency over the Bureau of Protective Services — which provides security at the State House — said in a statement Monday that it increased security last week.
“We are remaining in a state of heightened security and vigilance and monitoring developments in the state and around the nation,” the department said.
Security was clearly beefed up Monday at the State House, where lawmakers will return to work Tuesday.
At a morning press conference at the State House where the state’s Attorney General Alan Wilson was speaking to reporters, a SLED agent dressed in camouflage with riot action gear and a bulletproof vest stood nearby with a uniformed BPS officer.
A local law enforcement source familiar with security preparations told The State Monday that there would be plenty of security on hand at the State House complex, continuing on until additional security was not needed anymore. Much of the security would be in out-of-sight rapid response teams who could spring into action if needed, the source said.
The source asked for anonymity because they were not authorized to make official public statements on the matter.
In recent days, law enforcement around the country and in South Carolina have been made aware of an inflammatory social media post. The post, read to The State said, in part, “Come armed at your personal discretion. Jan. 17, 2021, 12 pm .... over 200 years ago, our founding fathers fought for the rights and liberties of this nation. Don’t let their efforts be in vain. Demand freedom. Stand up for liberty.”
The Columbia Police Department said Monday it is working with state and federal partners to gather intelligence in the days ahead of Biden’s swearing-in.
“We will have a multi-agency security plan in place for all planned or spontaneous events. CPD is also monitoring social media, human intelligence and other open information sources regarding planned upcoming events,” Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said in a statement.
“City of Columbia citizens can expect to see high visible police presence on and around the South Carolina State House, or other identified protest locations as events are announced or detected.”
This story was originally published January 11, 2021 at 6:06 PM.
