WASHINGTON — Attackers are likely to use allegations of election fraud to provoke election-related violence, according to a federal report obtained by CBS News.
“Some individuals have called for violence in response to narratives of election fraud, primarily targeting election officials and residents whom the threat actors perceive to threaten the integrity of the 2024 general election.” The bulletin states.
The bulletin, released by the Department of Homeland Security on Monday, said online forums used by domestic violent extremists are being used by election officials “for the purpose of preventing or retaliating against perceived fraud.” and threats of violence against infrastructure. Many of the posts promote narratives about election fraud related to mail-in voting and electronic voting machines, the report said.
“Motivated by this rhetoric, some individuals have expressed online their intent to intimidate voters and election staff through surveillance of election infrastructure and personnel, including by armed individuals,” the bulletin continued. “Some of these online users encourage violence against ideological opponents related to the use of mail-in voting, while others encourage methods of sabotaging ballot drop boxes; Some people are using online forums to call for violence against local election officials.
Federal investigators believe there are several factors that could increase an attacker’s perception of election fraud, including “disputed or close elections, state election laws that affect the announcement of results; or changes in regulations, unforeseen events that delay vote counting, or technical or administrative issues.” Errors affecting the vote tabulation process. ”
The warning looks like this the ballot box was set on fire Hundreds of ballots were thrown away in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. A large number of mail-in ballots were also damaged when a U.S. Postal Service mailbox was recently set on fire in Phoenix, Arizona. The incident is under investigation.
Last week, intelligence and law enforcement agencies announced that Russian actors had “fabricated and amplified” the crime. A video purporting to show someone destroying mail-in ballots The rally in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, was held “as part of Moscow’s broader effort to raise unfounded questions about the integrity of U.S. elections and stoke divisions among Americans.”
joint intelligence bulletin Published earlier this month The Department of Homeland Security and FBI warned that domestic violent extremists with “election-related grievances” could target political candidates and elected officials in the coming weeks. . The report said domestic extremists “are threatening violence against a variety of targets directly or indirectly related to the election through at least Inauguration Day on January 20, 2025.”
A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Monday that the United States remains in an “elevated” threat environment.
“The department continues to advise federal, state, and local governments to remain vigilant for potential threats and encourages the public to report any suspicious activity to local authorities,” the spokesperson said. Ta.
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