Exclusive: Secret Commandos with Shoot-to-Kill Authority Were at the Capitol
By: William M. Arkin (Newsweek)
Three days before the Jan. 6th insurrection, here was a secret meeting in Quantico to address existing contingency plans to deal with the potential "terrorist attack" on the capitol. Jeffrey A. Rosen, the acting Attorney General decided to deploy forces to protect our democracy. This protective action would NOT have occurred if William Barr hadn't resigned about two weeks before the insurrection.
The Jan. 6th insurrection was NOT just a group of tourists. The threat of this White-wing terrorism still exists. Donald Trump is the embodiment of dictatorship. He failed on Jan. 6th butt he has NOT stopped trying to destroy American democracy.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
In this daily series, Newsweek explores the steps that led to the January 6 Capitol Riot.
On Sunday, January 3, the heads of a half-dozen elite government special operations teams met in Quantico, Virginia, to go over potential threats, contingencies, and plans for the upcoming Joint Session of Congress. The meeting, and the subsequent deployment of these shadowy commandos on January 6, has never before been revealed.
Right after the New Year, Jeffrey A. Rosen, the acting Attorney General on January 6, approved implementation of long-standing contingency plans dealing with the most extreme possibilities: an attack on President Donald Trump or Vice President Mike Pence, a terrorist attack involving a weapon of mass destruction, and a declaration of measures to implement continuity of government, requiring protection and movement of presidential successors.
Rosen made a unilateral decision to take the preparatory steps to deploy Justice Department and so-called "national" forces. There was no formal request from the U.S. Capitol Police, the Secret Service, or the Metropolitan Police Department—in fact, no external request from any agency. The leadership in Justice and the FBI anticipated the worst and decided to act independently, the special operations forces lurking behind the scenes.
Secret commandos, authorized to shoot to kill, were at the Capitol. FBI and ATF law enforcement confront supporters of President Donald Trump as they protested inside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.Brent Stirton/Getty Images
"I believe that DOJ [Department of Justice] reasonably prepared for contingencies ahead of January 6, understanding that there was considerable uncertainty as to how many people would arrive, who those people would be, and precisely what purposes they would pursue," Rosen later told Congress. He stressed that his department "no frontline role with respect to crowd control," that they were focused on "high-risk" operations.
The contingency units meeting on January 3 included the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team, the FBI's national "Render Safe" team, an FBI SWAT team from the Baltimore Field Office, Special Response Teams from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service Special Operations Group.
All of these assets were "pre-deployed" and ready to go over the weekend of January 2-3, staging out of the FBI Academy complex in Quantico, 30 miles south of the Capitol building. If a WMD or terrorist attack occurred, the units were to move via helicopter to the site of the incident. The activation of the catastrophic response units, operating under plans already approved by President Trump, entailed an automatic green light allowing federal responders to take the initiative and spare no resources, including shoot-to-kill authority, to deal with this most extraordinary condition.
The 350-strong Hostage Rescue Team was established in 1983 to be a national level counterterrorist unit, offering a "tactical" option—a military option—for the most extraordinary law enforcement situations within the United States. Prior to 9/11, HRT was primarily a domestic counter-terrorism unit; after the attack, the team took on additional missions, including working with the Joint Special Operations Command overseas in high-profile raids and the targeting of high-value targets.
Jeffrey Rosen made a unilateral decision to take the preparatory steps to deploy Justice Department and so-called "national" forces. Here, Rosen removes his face mask as he speaks at the Justice Department on October 21, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Yuri Gripas-Pool/Getty Images)
The FBI is the lead agency for what insiders call the "no-fail, 24-hour, 7-day-a-week, 365-day-per-year response capability." In 1999, the Bureau was assigned the responsibility for the render safe mission, a euphemism for extraordinary and highly classified actions that are slated to take place in cases of a lost, stolen, or hidden nuclear or radiological weapon. The FBI had already been given primary responsibility for domestic counterterrorism, including quasi-military action against armed groups inside the United States. President Bill Clinton approved new rules that assigned "national response" to the FBI (it had previously resided in the Defense Department). The FBI would form the dedicated rapid response force, and technical response assets from various departments would be seconded to this so-called National Mission Force, operating under a National Asset Commander, an FBI officer appointed by and reporting to the Attorney General and ultimately the White House.
In April 2005, the FBI consolidated its various extraordinary response teams under the National Asset Response Unit (NARU), responsible for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The dedicated rapid response force, ready to deploy anywhere in the United States within two hours of notification, reached operational readiness during the Obama administration, with dedicated national response elements from the Department of Energy and augmentation from the military's Joint Special Operations Command.
The overlap of counterterrorism and WMD forged this extraordinary force, operating under Top Secret and compartmentalized presidential directives. The National Mission Force, however, also had to plan for other crisis response contingencies, such as hostage rescue and continuity of government. Those latter functions could also fall under the operational control of the Secret Service (an element of the Department of Homeland Security) or to military commanders who were operating in response to immediate emergencies.
Most of the literature mistakenly says that the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC)—including, famously, the units formerly known as Delta Force and SEAL Team 6—is the primary national mission force. Although overseas, the National Mission Force often operates as a Joint Special Operations Task Force (with FBI augmentation), made up of dedicated teams assigned to JSOC, inside the United States, the FBI is in charge.
On the morning of January 6, most of these forces staged closer to downtown Washington, particularly after intelligence was received indicating a possible threat to FBI headquarters building or the FBI's Washington Field Office. FBI tactical teams arrived on Capitol Hill early in the day to assist in the collection of evidence at sites—including the Republican and Democratic party national headquarters—where explosive devices were found. FBI SWAT teams and snipers were deployed to secure nearby congressional office buildings. Other FBI agents provided selective security around the U.S. Capitol and protection to congressional members and staff.
A tactical team of the Hostage Rescue Team was one of the first external federal agencies to actually enter the Capitol after protestors breached the building. In addition to augmentation of emergency security assets, one team coordinated with the U.S. Capitol Police and Secret Service to provide additional safeguarding of Vice President Pence, who had been moved to the underground parking structure beneath the Capitol, from where he was supposed to evacuate. But Pence refused to leave the building and stayed underground instead.
The presence of these extraordinary forces under the control of the Attorney General—and mostly operating under contingency plans that Congress and the U.S. Capitol Police were not privy to—added an additional layer of highly armed responders. The role that the military played in this highly classified operation is still unknown, though FBI sources tell Newsweek that military operators seconded to the FBI, and those on alert as part of the National Mission Force, were present in the metropolitan area. The lingering question is: What was it that the Justice Department saw that provoked it to see January 6 as an extraordinary event, something that the other agencies evidently missed.
CORRECTION (Jan. 3, 2022, 10:437 p.m.): This story originally stated the office of the 'Democrat' Party but has been corrected to note 'Democratic Party' office.
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The planned overthrow of the US government on Jan. 6th caused Jeffrey A. Rosen (the acting Attorney General) to take dramatic steps to protect democracy.
Many Trumpanzees are still in denial about the serious nature of this threat (which still exists).
The capitol needs sunken high pressure water cannons that raise at the next attack and there will be one as long as Trump still has magats.
more like elevated 50 cal machine guns with overlapping fields of fire for the next maga insurrection...
What percentage of your posts are fantasies about killing people, do you think?
And some hounds. Dealing with an angry mob is not as much fun without releasing some hounds.
That works for me also.
I'm guessing about the same number of your posts that actually address the seeded topic.
.
.
Maybe the Capitol Police should station Quasimodo on the roof to pour melted lead on angry mobs.
It's more efficient and economical to simply shoot lead.
Greg, I hate to tell you butt since you've missed two periods, you may be pregnant.
LOL!
(Nut it is fun to monkey around with the language a bit . . . to better express an idea).
Thanx.
It is fun to monkey around.
I see what you did there.
But shoot who?
It was so confusing. The only black people were the Capitol Police, some newsies and some politicians.
( and the FBI Swat team and Hostage Rescue Team and the NG, the Metro Police and Secret Service
and the EMTs picking up the dead people in the parking lot )
We don't shoot white protesters whether they are breaking down the doors of Congress
or chasing the police out of a Seattle precinct or having nighty riots in Portland.
After all, we are a White Christian nation.
too much /s?
Tell that to Ashli Babbitt.!
More Jan. 6 attendees died from natural causes or drug overdose than by being shot by LE. It’s a good thing I wasn’t in the shoes of those employed to protect the Capital or that ratio would be reversed. I’ll gladly dig up Ashli’s corpse and tell her that.
I think the most entertaining death was from stupidity.
Remember the guy with the stun gun in his pocket. He "stunned" his testicles to death.
Forgot about that one! Natural selection at work.
I think he should have won a Darwin Award.
Impressive!
I'm surprised that the NT White-wingers have NOT posted any comments here expressing their outrage about the "Secret commandos, authorized to shoot to kill, being at the Capitol."
I guess they "cucked out" too.
Probably because I seeded the same story already?.................Yesterday.
or maybe some are taking advantage of that nifty new feature where they can ignore a group
That's a great way to encourage an exchange of ideas.
Now everyone can hide in their echo chambers where they will feel safe.
Sorry, I missed your presentation (probably because I was writing this (and another piece).
I notice the NT White wingers commented on your seed butt they have avoided this one.
I wonder why?
Redundancy. That was easy if one thinks about it.
Yeah...yeah...but it keeps me out of trouble. I don't have anything to contribute to those groups
[deleted]
Because this isn't a right wing circle jerk like the other
I used to work at the Department of Redundancy Department.
I do, butt they usually delete my gems.
You mean like this group?
Yes, Greg.
I like this mean group too.
Same here Giggles. I won't waste my time on garbage or where there is nothing to learn but more hate and deliberate lies. And no, it is not because I prefer an echo chamber, it is because I prefer not to engage in nothing but insults, trolling, taunts and such that only dehumanizes those who do enjoy that kind of 'discussion'.
you're missing out on all the fun in heated discussions then. say anything you want to the unenlightened because their flags are useless there. al could light that place up like vegas.
Maybe I should visit "Heated Dicksuctions".
no censorshit there, so of course most of the opposition is very afraid to venture inside.
says the guy that has at least 3 whining articles about moderation published there...
last word, last word, last word, locked.
I use that feature, not because of wanting an echo chamber, but because certain members of certain groups do not want a discussion - they want their views only - that is why they have begun using the "IMPASSE" so that no one can refute their bullshit with facts.
Also so many of them are auto-join if you comment AND I do not want to be a member of certain groups.
golly, did all the articles written by some knuckle dragging thumper whining about group moderation mysteriously get deleted?
Your story is far more interesting though Al Jizzerror than the one posted by some other random poster and the atmosphere here far more agreeable to me.
Same fucking story, same fucking source. But this one is more interesting???
Your "story" must have been superior.
I noticed that you voted your seed up.
Always do. Helps it get on the front page so I understand. Was I subject to mis-dis-information??
True.
Also, there are certain posters that I just don't like!
Interesting...
Because they hand you your ass on a regular basis perhaps??
NOT POSSIBLE. NEVER HAPPENED. NEVER WILL.
Ummm au contraire. Sorry. Really am sincerely sorry.
I'm still waiting for proof that anyone has ever handed me my ass. Won't happen. Never happened. Never will.
Although I can and have admitted that I have made mistakes in the past, unlike others who shall remain nameless, I don't need to blame them on someone else. I accept it and move on.
Punching bags don't know they are punching bags either.
Yes, yes you are sorry.
Sincerely, al
Y'all need to stop making me the subject/topic of this article and also stop the trolling.
Ya! Sorry is right!
Yes, they do. They always forget who owns this group
What is this? Third grade playground? FFS "owning" this group and $6.75 will get you a Grande at Starbucks.
You are better than this TG
You don't delete comments of folks just because you don't like them - like some other folks I know of.
Not when I'm dealing with trolls. Someone tells me he thinks we should avoid each other and then tramps into one of my groups and starts acting like Godzilla.
I really don't get the "tramps into one of my groups" thing. People come into these groups to comment and not troll so much as you would like that to be the case. If someone seeds an article in one of your groups and it ISN'T you and it sparks some thought and need for comment, I guess I just don't understand the angst. That's it. There is also the ignore function to help with the ignoring. Sorry it's just sad to see you go off for me.
And for the most part you provide insightful comment (maybe not so much here on this one), but you have to admit that there are others who troll for the sheer delight it brings them. If they hate this group so much why comment?
I really don't think it's hate for the group TG. As much as it is dismay at the articles and seeds and subsequent comments posted. And at that I don't think it's hate. If so we have some folks in need of some serious help.
Nobody is forcing anyone to read the seeds and the comments. They can just easily ignore or dismiss them. I do it all the time with groups and authors where I know I'm not welcome. Why can't they?
If they show up on the front page and someone has an opinion (including me) I usually don't pay attention to the group it's in. Just want to see what the thoughts are on the article/seed and read it first. They come knowing, in a couple of your groups anyway, that they may and probably will face deletion due to a possible over zealous mod who just doesn't want certain people commenting. But yet they come anyway. People are different in their thought processes.
Let's end this.
Okay. Have a good night.
Yes, so your comments are appropriate here.
Butt, bear in mind, when you play here, there are lots of other people playing here who have vastly superior skills
... yeah, that doesn't happen in any other NT groups, does it? /s
So sad.
Hold on to that REEEEAL tight............
See 3.2.17 - a prime culprit.
LOL!
They are hold up in their mom's basements with their Trumpy Bears and a supply of Big Macs and Diet Cokes, crying into their My Pillows.
How many times do we need to see the same story?
How many times do you need to comment on the same story?
It's a shame that your first comment was censored ( 3.1.6 Vic Eldred ). I assume it was brimming with valuable insight.
I always appreciate your precious meta.
Depends upon the person. Some people are a bit "slow" (if ya catch my drift...)
Vic has posted 4 worthless comments on this seed (so far).
Butt he(she?) thinks the seed is worthless.
It seems a little pot/kettle to me. I love it 'cause I have plenty of pot.
Be thankful, he's not known for waggish wit.
that's the type of comment that gets deleted in your groups, isn't it?
Again, I'd prefer to see al Jizeerror's and any from this group's posts any day over certain other RANDOM posters ANY DAY.
I don't find certain random posters' 'articles' or contributions at all worthwhile and don't waste much time on them.
Again, articles by al Jizzzerror and others from this group and their contributions and the overall atmosphere I find very worthwhile and pleasant to be around and why I spend so much time here/there.
That is how Newsvine came to it's end.
I really hate to go Meta in Al's seed but it's you specifically that keeps me out of certain seeds/articles. I have nothing to contribute but liberal-filled hate, so why bother?
Who said or says that?
a few
You see, trout, when you write hit pieces on HD calling me a "misogynist" it does kind of disqualify you from having a discussion with me. So, let us continue to avoid each other. It's for the best.
Wait! How did you know about my piece in HD? I thought you left that group with your tail between your legs? And even more specifically, what makes you think it was about you? Talk about an ego!
And if you want us to continue avoiding each other, you might want to look at the groups you're posting in
WTF?
I totally agree! 👍
Thanks, guys
Actually, ButtHeads Nation on Newsvine was the most active Nation.
I doubt that activity contributed to the withering of the vine.
Funny how he wants to venture into groups that some might call a "liberal echo chamber" and he doesn't want us to interact....but why comment in this group? Is he lonely?
Are you avoiding Trout Giggles by replying to her comments on this thread?
That's a unique approach.
you also posted:
let us continue to avoid each other.
Incidentally, there is a "block" function on this site.
There is also a new "block group" function.
Yes, he(she?) is definitely lonely.
Lonely attention whores love to troll.
He won't be back. Once I pointed out what group he was posting in he fled...tho he will continue to flag shit or have one of his minions do it
which explains why they're all in here now...
Just fyi, I only just learned of the HD article. As per the rules of HD, I have taken down the article.
Was that considered a call out article? I didn't mention any names
no, this is how it ended...
Me too!