US Police: "Capitol Rioters Plotting to Reattack Capitol on July 4"

March 4 Trump Comeback Conspiracy Tensions Washington DC
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[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Tension is mounting in Washington DC as the U.S. Capitol Police revealed that rioters who previously stormed the Capitol in January are plotting to seize the Capitol again in early next month. The rioters, mainly composed of fervent supporters of former President Donald Trump, are reportedly gathering forces while spreading conspiracy theories that Trump will be reinstated on March 4.

According to foreign media including the AP on the 3rd (local time), the U.S. Capitol Police issued a statement saying, "We have obtained information that the rioters who stormed the Capitol are plotting to breach the Capitol again on March 4," and warned, "We take this information seriously, and lawmakers must recognize and prepare for the potential threat to the Capitol." Consequently, the Capitol Police are said to have installed barricades and other structures around the Capitol and significantly increased security personnel.

Earlier, on January 6, thousands of rioters, mainly composed of far-right militia groups supporting former President Trump, stormed the U.S. Capitol, resulting in a tragedy with five deaths. Although more than 300 people have been indicted since then, organizations that led the assault such as QAnon and Three Percenters remain active and are reportedly plotting a re-invasion on March 4.

CNN also reported that the FBI has detected discussions among extremists, including the far-right militia group Three Percenters, about a conspiracy to re-invade the Capitol on March 4. The far-right conspiracy group QAnon is also spreading conspiracy theories that former President Trump will return as president on the 4th, rallying supporters once again.

The reason far-right conspiracy theorists like QAnon have designated March 4 as the day to attack the Capitol is believed to be because March 4 was the U.S. presidential inauguration day before 1933. Since 1793, the U.S. Congress had set the presidential inauguration day as March 4, but it was changed to January 20 under the 20th Amendment ratified in 1933.

Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives has announced it will shorten its originally scheduled agenda through the 4th. According to The Washington Post (WP), the House had planned to address police reform legislation on March 4 but moved the schedule up to the evening before.