Officials determined troubling posts did not indicate threat ahead of Capitol riot: report

Newly uncovered emails reportedly show that Capitol security officials were alerted to social media posts calling for violence the day before the deadly Jan. 6 attack by former President Trump’s supporters, but authorities determined that they did not pose a credible threat. 

CNN noted Wednesday that previously unreported communications show that a representative from the artificial intelligence company Dataminr flagged to security officials on Jan. 5 that it had uncovered several disturbing posts.

One of the posts on the platform 8kun reportedly called on people to “go to Washington on Jan 6 and help storm the Capital.”

“We will storm government buildings, kill cops, kill security guards, kill federal employees and agents,” the post added, according to an email obtained by CNN. 

The Dataminr representative hours later reportedly sent along additional online posts on Parler from users discussing storming the Capitol. 

According to CNN, the warnings prompted communications among Capitol security officers, with an email from Valerie Hasberry, chief security officer for the Architect of the Capitol, reading: “There is now chatter on Parler about storming the Capitol, please let me know if there are any updates to credible threats.”

The network added that an on-duty officer responded to Hasberry, saying: “There is no talk about any credible threats or storming the Capitol.”

“[Watch Commander] Wisham said he would look through his emails and systems to make sure and if there is any information then he will forward it to us,” the officer reportedly added.

The Hill has reached out to the Architect of the Capitol and Capitol Police for comment on CNN’s report. 

The reported emails are the latest indication of discrepancies in the planning and response to violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, in which multiple people died and dozens were injured. 

In testimony before the House Administration Committee earlier this month, Capitol Police inspector general Michael Bolton highlighted two recent reports listing numerous failures by Capitol Police before and during the riot, including failures to communicate intelligence warnings and deciding against providing more effective riot equipment.