Politico releases a review of Homeland Security threat assessment drafts that clearly identify white supremacist extremists as the “most persistent and lethal threat” to the United States.
The drafts obtained by Lawfare and Politico show that DHS actively worked to downplay the threat of white supremacy in later drafts. That matches with the whistleblower complaint that claims Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli ordered an employee to alter threat assessment documents and fabricate the threat of Anti-fascists.
Antifa is not mentioned in any of the drafts.
“Lone offenders and small cells of individuals motivated by a diverse array of social, ideological, and personal factors will pose the primary terrorist threat to the United States,” the draft reads. “Among these groups, we assess that white supremacist extremists – who increasingly are networking with likeminded persons abroad – will pose the most persistent and lethal threat.”
Politico
Speaking to senators three weeks later, DHS Acting Secretary Chad Wolf tells Congress that the assessment is correct, and white supremacists have been the greatest threat for at least two years.
“White supremacist extremists, from a lethality standpoint over the last two years, particularly when you look at 2018 and 2019, are certainly the most persistent and lethal threat when we talk about domestic violent extremists,” said Chad Wolf, who has been heading the Department of Homeland Security in an acting capacity since late last year.
Bloomberg
Sources
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-23/white-supremacists-top-terrorist-threats-within-u-s-wolf-says
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/04/white-supremacists-terror-threat-dhs-409236
Photo: Paul Weaver
