Local

Police issue alert about possible March 4 plot against U.S. Capitol

A warning on Wednesday from U.S. Capitol police cites intelligence of a militia group’s possible plot to breach the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, March 4.

“March 4 is the latest goal post-moving date from the QAnon conspiracy theorists,” said Peter Montgomery, a researcher for Right Wing Watch, a project of People for the American Way, where Montgomery is a senior fellow.

He said QAnon followers involved in the Jan. 6 insurrection believe the military will re-install former President Donald Trump on March 4, the inauguration date for much of American history.

“I don’t think most of us are expecting something big at the Capitol tomorrow, but one of the things that’s possible is there could be a small cell out there of eight or 10 guys who might decide on their own that they’re going to do something and that might not necessarily be picked up,” Montgomery said.

Montgomery said there was much more extremist chatter before Jan. 6.

In Washington state, where protesters stormed the governor’s mansion that day, the FBI told KIRO 7 there is no specific, credible threat for March 4.

Still, the state Capitol in Olympia remains secured.

“Just because you don’t have a specific threat doesn’t mean there’s not threats out there,” said Chris Loftis of the Washington State Patrol.

The National Guard is no longer stationed at the Capitol. But fences are up and roadways are blocked, as part of the State Patrol’s very visible presence since the days after Jan. 6 and before the start of the remote legislative session.

“I would say there’s an abundance of uncertainty in our security environment. So with an abundance of uncertainty, we need an abundance of caution,” Loftis said.