Democrats offer resolution denouncing white supremacists ahead of Trump trial

A group of Senate Democrats on Tuesday introduced a resolution condemning white supremacists, while calling on the FBI to conduct an immediate review of the threat posed by domestic terror groups.

The resolution, introduced by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and and Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), also highlighted neo-Nazis, anti-government militias and conspiracy theories including QAnon as posing threats to democratic institutions.

The senators said the U.S. intelligence community should join the FBI in examining how fringe groups use social media to recruit members.

The resolution says that in addition to being involved with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, the extremist groups were “directly responsible” for the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, one of five people killed during the riots.

The introduction of the resolution comes exactly one week before the Senate is scheduled to begin a second impeachment trial for former President Trump.

House impeachment managers and Trump’s lawyers each laid out their trial plans on Tuesday, with Democrats saying Trump bears direct responsibility for the mob attack on the Capitol last month. The former president’s attorneys argue that the impeachment trial is unconstitutional since Trump is no longer in office.