The Department of Homeland Security issued a warning Tuesday about the heightened threat of extremist violence in the run-up to November’s elections.
“As the United States enters mid-term election season this year, we assess that calls for violence by domestic violent extremists directed at democratic institutions, political candidates, party offices, election events, and election workers will likely increase,” stated the DHS National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin, which expires Nov. 30.
This dire warning comes just three weeks after Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick voted against the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022, a bill that enhances the government’s fight against racially motivated domestic terrorism and hate crimes.
Fitzpatrick blamed “The Squad” and the “Far Left” for his “No” vote. The Trump-backed congressman wrote:
“The changes, which were made in order to accommodate this small far-left group, include a last minute change to the original definition of domestic terrorism and a rule of construction that would give DOJ too much leeway in picking and choosing what it considers to constitute domestic terrorism.”
He never bothered to explain what changes, or what exact text in the bill he opposed.
The bill does state that “the term ‘domestic terrorism’ has the meaning given the term in section 2331 of title 18, United States Code.” It also emphasizes the threat of White supremacists and neo-Nazis, which actually is fitting after the Buffalo massacre.
Never mind there were White supremacists and other right-wing extremists like militia groups who participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol Insurrection. The FBI, which Fitzpatrick used to work for, also believes these right-wing extremists are a top terror threat. After passing the House, Senate Republicans blocked the bill from advancing to a vote.
Fitzpatrick’s Democratic Party challenger Ashley Ehasz responded to his “No” vote for Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act after originally co-sponsoring the legislation as “playing political games” with people’s lives.
“Several recent violent attacks by lone offenders against minority communities, schools, houses of worship, and mass transit have demonstrated the dynamic and complex nature of the threat environment facing the United States,” the DHS noted in its bulletin.
This is not the time to be playing political games.
The Bucks County Courier Times and The Intelligencer newspapers have refused to cover Fitzpatrick’s vote on this deadly issue. Support Independent Progressive Media. Become a Sustainer HERE.
