Republican convention in Milwaukee could be ‘attractive’ target for violent extremists, federal assessment says

NOTHING HAVE AGREED TO SQUARE OFF ON THURSDAY, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP TAKE CENTER STAGE FOR THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE AND THERE ARE A FEW UNUSUAL THINGS ABOUT THIS ONE. IT’S TAKING PLACE BEFORE THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN PARTY CONVENTIONS, MEANING BEFORE BIDEN OR TRUMP ARE OFFICIALLY NOMINATED AS THEIR PARTY’S CANDIDATES AND WITHOUT THE COMMISSION ON PRESIDENT FINAL DEBATES, THE BODY THAT HAS LONG OVERSEEN SCENE AND SET THE RULES FOR THESE EVENTS, KATHRYNBROWNELL IS AN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT PURDUE UNIVERSITY. SHE SPECIALIZES IN THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE MEDIA AND THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY. IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE YOU, PROFESSOR BROWNELL. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME. OF COURSE. ALL RIGHT. WELL, TAKE US BACK TO THE VERY FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE. WHAT WAS THE THE FOCUS AND THE GOAL OF THAT FIRST DEBATE? SO THE FIRST PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE HAPPENS IN 1960 BETWEEN RICHARD NIXON AND JOHN KENNEDY. AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOW THE TWO MEN LOOKED REALLY DOMINATED INTERPRETATIONS OF THAT ELECTION. AND SO THERE ARE MANY REASONS WHY JOHN F KENNEDY WON THE 1960 ELECTION THAT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE TV DEBATES. BUT IN THE MIND OF RICHARD NIXON AND POLITICAL CONSULTANTS AND MEDIA ADVISERS, THEY ARGUED THAT IT’S THE DEBATES AND NIXON’S POOR PRESENTATION HAS POOR IMAGE THAT REALLY HE LOST THE ELECTION FOR HIM. AND SO IN THE AFTERMATH OF THESE DEBATES, THIS EFFORT TO CONTROL TELEVISION IMAGE BECOMES A POLITICAL PRIORITY IF WE FAST FORWARD, IT’S NOT ONLY CONTROLLING THE IMAGE, IT’S ALSO CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE OUT OF IT. ABSOLUTELY. AND THIS IS, AGAIN, A HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 1976 ELECTION. THERE’S THIS ONE MOMENT WHERE GERALD FORD TALKS ABOUT THE SOVIET DOMINATION OF EASTERN EUROPE AND WHAT HAPPENS IS THAT IMMEDIATELY WASN’T A DEFINING MOMENT. BUT CARTER’S MEDIA TEAM REALLY GRABBED A HOLD OF THAT, AND IT REALLY INTRODUCED THIS IDEA THAT THAT WINNING THE NARRATIVE MATTERED MORE. DO YOU THINK, UM, PEOPLE TAKE WHAT COMES OUT OF THE DEBATES AS AN IMPORTANT MEASURE OF HOW THEY SHOULD THROW THEIR VOTE, OR ARE PEOPLE WATCHING THE DEBATES PRETTY MUCH WHO’VE ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MIND? I THINK, YOU KNOW, RESEARCH KIND OF SHOWS THAT PEOPLE ARE PRETTY ENTRENCHED IN TERMS OF THEIR POLITICAL THINKING AND THAT THEY THEY TUNE IN REALLY TO CHEER ON THEIR CANDIDATE AND TO PERHAPS JEER THE, THE OPPONENT. SO IT’S UNLIKELY THAT THE DEBATES WILL CHANGE MINDS. HOWEVER. JR, I DO THINK THAT IT IS AN IMPORTANT EVENT IN THE CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IT DOES BRING THE CANDIDATES INTO A CONVERSATION WITH ONE ANOTHER. IT DOES KIND OF CREATE A NATIONAL EXPERIENCE THAT EVERYONE IS WATCHING THE SAME CONVERSATION AT THE SAME TIME. THAT BEING SAID, WITH SOCIAL MEDIA THESE DAYS, YOU DON’T HAVE THE SPIN ROOM THAT’S HAPPENING AFTER THE DEBATES. YOU HAVE IT HAPPENING IN REAL TIME. AND SO I THINK THAT THAT CAN KIND OF UNDERMINE THIS EFFORT TO HAVE A SHARED EXPERIENCE, BECAUSE HOW PEOPLE ARE WATCHING AND VIEWING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE DEBATE IS ALSO ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND SO THEY’RE PICKING UP CERTAIN THINGS, UM, IN REAL TIME. HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA REALLY CHANGED THIS ENTIRE GAME SINCE THE 1960S, WHEN THERE WAS NONE? WELL, I THINK IT DOES BRING MORE PEOPLE INTO THE CONVERSATION. RIGHT? SO IT’S NOT JUST SOMEONE ONE SAYING THIS WAS WHAT WAS IMPORTANT FROM A PARTICULAR CAMPAIGN, BUT YOU ACTUALLY HAVE PEOPLE WHO COULD CALL ATTENTION TO CERTAIN ISSUES THAT RESONATED WITH THEM. SO I THINK IT’S IT’S BROADENED THE PARTICIPATION TO ALLOW MORE PEOPLE TO TO KIND OF SHAPE THAT THIS IS WHAT MATTERED TO THEM. BUT EACH OF THESE CANDIDATES HAS THEIR OWN PLATFORM. AND I’M CURIOUS IF YOU THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE MODERATED OFFICIAL DEBATES ARE EVEN IMPORTANT ANYMORE WHEN THEY CAN CREATE THEIR OWN CONTENT AND THEY DO EACH AND EVERY DAY. I THINK THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT. STILL, BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE WHO PERHAPS ARE SUPPORTING BIDEN MAY NOT ACTUALLY SEE WHAT TRUMP IS SAYING BECAUSE IT IS ON SUCH A DIFFERENT PLATFORM. AND AND THE REVERSE IS TRUE AS WELL. AND SO I THINK IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SUPPORTERS OF EACH CAMPAIGN TO HEAR WHAT THE OTHER CANDIDATE IS SAYING. KATHRYNBROWNELL FROM PURDUE

The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week could be an “attractive” target for violent extremists or other people looking to sow chaos by disrupting a high-profile political event, according to a threat assessment from federal agencies and the Milwaukee Police Department obtained by CNN.Related video above: What’s Different About Biden and Trump’s 2024 Presidential Debate?This election season has seen a “resurgence in disruptive tactics targeting election symbols” that are very likely meant to “instill fear and disrupt operations at election-related critical infrastructure facilities,” according to the assessment. The report was prepared by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Wisconsin state and city law enforcement officials. Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis distributed the assessment to federal, state and local officials in recent days.There is “no credible reporting to indicate a threat” to the Republican National Convention, but “violent threat actors” may view the convention “as an attractive target due to its symbolic nature and link to the 2024 general election,” says the threat assessment, which was dated July 2.One of the “disruptive tactics” that law enforcement officials are worried about is “swatting,” in which a caller makes a bogus crime report intended to trigger a massive law enforcement response to a target’s residence. Since December, at least four swatting incidents have been aimed at the homes of elections officials, CNN previously reported.The Republican National Convention, taking place July 15-18, is expected to draw some 50,000 people as Republicans nominate Donald Trump as their presidential candidate. It comes at a time of bitter partisan divide and simmering tensions among Americans over policies such as President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.“DHS and FBI remain concerned about the possibility of violent conflict occurring at otherwise lawful protest events or gatherings linked to the 2024 RNC,” the threat assessment says.There are also expected to be security concerns and a large law enforcement presence around the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.The Republican convention, like other major political events, is an opportunity for foreign intelligence services to collect information on policy positions or people with “perceived access” to political campaigns, the threat assessment says.Blockbuster political events like the convention also “remain attractive targets” for foreign terrorists or domestic violent extremists looking to draw attention to their ideological causes, according to the assessment. There are heightened concerns from U.S. officials that an ISIS affiliate could carry out an attack on U.S. soil, CNN reported last month.A DHS spokesperson told CNN in a statement that “The U.S. is in a heightened threat environment,” as the agency detailed in a September threat assessment.“We continue to work with our partners to evaluate the threat environment, provide updates to the American public, and protect our homeland,” the statement said. “There is no credible reporting to indicate a threat to the Republican National Convention at this time, but the event may be viewed as a target. We urge the public to stay vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activity to their local law enforcement.”Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has designated the Republican National Convention a National Special Security Event, or NSSE — a common designation for major events that might be a target of criminals or terrorists, a U.S. official told CNN. Threat assessments like the one issued for the Republican National Convention are issued for all NSSE events.“While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI regularly shares information with our law enforcement partners to assist in protecting the communities they serve,” the FBI said in a statement to CNN. “The FBI encourages members of the public to be vigilant and report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.”The Secret Service referred questions about the threat assessment to Homeland Security.CNN has also requested comment from the Milwaukee Police Department.Federal, state and local law enforcement officials have spent months preparing for the Republican convention, mapping out potential threats and chasing down investigative leads. In February, according to the threat assessment, “an unidentified individual” was seen “recording/photographing” during a delivery to a loading dock at the exterior of Fiserv Forum — the arena that is the main venue for the convention. The Milwaukee Police Department is investigating the incident, the assessment says.The Secret Service last month laid out the security measures for the convention, including a perimeter that will prevent protesters from gathering at a large park near the venue. The announcement came after a monthslong dispute between the Secret Service and the Republican Party over security measures around the convention. The party had accused the agency of ignoring its concerns, while the Secret Service said Republicans were undermining efforts to keep the event safe.Around the convention, law enforcement officials are also on alert for the mailing of suspicious packages, arson, property destruction and the exposure of public officials’ private information online, according to the threat assessment.Election offices in multiple states reported receiving suspicious packages around the November 2023 gubernatorial and state legislative elections.“We also remain concerned about the potential for hoax threats to disrupt the 2024 RNC, leading to evacuations and closures of political events, as well as straining law enforcement resources,” the document says.The large influx of out-of-state visitors could also be a boon for sex traffickers, officials warned.“The FBI anticipates victims will arrive in Wisconsin and advertise online or in locations known to offer sexual services in the weeks prior to the events,” according to the assessment.

Related video above: What’s Different About Biden and Trump’s 2024 Presidential Debate?

This election season has seen a “resurgence in disruptive tactics targeting election symbols” that are very likely meant to “instill fear and disrupt operations at election-related critical infrastructure facilities,” according to the assessment. The report was prepared by the FBI, U.S. Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, and Wisconsin state and city law enforcement officials. Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis distributed the assessment to federal, state and local officials in recent days.

There is “no credible reporting to indicate a threat” to the Republican National Convention, but “violent threat actors” may view the convention “as an attractive target due to its symbolic nature and link to the 2024 general election,” says the threat assessment, which was dated July 2.

One of the “disruptive tactics” that law enforcement officials are worried about is “swatting,” in which a caller makes a bogus crime report intended to trigger a massive law enforcement response to a target’s residence. Since December, at least four swatting incidents have been aimed at the homes of elections officials, CNN previously reported.

The Republican National Convention, taking place July 15-18, is expected to draw some 50,000 people as Republicans nominate Donald Trump as their presidential candidate. It comes at a time of bitter partisan divide and simmering tensions among Americans over policies such as President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.

“DHS and FBI remain concerned about the possibility of violent conflict occurring at otherwise lawful protest events or gatherings linked to the 2024 RNC,” the threat assessment says.

There are also expected to be security concerns and a large law enforcement presence around the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August.

The Republican convention, like other major political events, is an opportunity for foreign intelligence services to collect information on policy positions or people with “perceived access” to political campaigns, the threat assessment says.

Blockbuster political events like the convention also “remain attractive targets” for foreign terrorists or domestic violent extremists looking to draw attention to their ideological causes, according to the assessment. There are heightened concerns from U.S. officials that an ISIS affiliate could carry out an attack on U.S. soil, CNN reported last month.

A DHS spokesperson told CNN in a statement that “The U.S. is in a heightened threat environment,” as the agency detailed in a September threat assessment.

“We continue to work with our partners to evaluate the threat environment, provide updates to the American public, and protect our homeland,” the statement said. “There is no credible reporting to indicate a threat to the Republican National Convention at this time, but the event may be viewed as a target. We urge the public to stay vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activity to their local law enforcement.”

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has designated the Republican National Convention a National Special Security Event, or NSSE — a common designation for major events that might be a target of criminals or terrorists, a U.S. official told CNN. Threat assessments like the one issued for the Republican National Convention are issued for all NSSE events.

“While our standard practice is to not comment on specific intelligence products, the FBI regularly shares information with our law enforcement partners to assist in protecting the communities they serve,” the FBI said in a statement to CNN. “The FBI encourages members of the public to be vigilant and report anything they consider suspicious to law enforcement.”

The Secret Service referred questions about the threat assessment to Homeland Security.

CNN has also requested comment from the Milwaukee Police Department.

Federal, state and local law enforcement officials have spent months preparing for the Republican convention, mapping out potential threats and chasing down investigative leads. In February, according to the threat assessment, “an unidentified individual” was seen “recording/photographing” during a delivery to a loading dock at the exterior of Fiserv Forum — the arena that is the main venue for the convention. The Milwaukee Police Department is investigating the incident, the assessment says.

The Secret Service last month laid out the security measures for the convention, including a perimeter that will prevent protesters from gathering at a large park near the venue. The announcement came after a monthslong dispute between the Secret Service and the Republican Party over security measures around the convention. The party had accused the agency of ignoring its concerns, while the Secret Service said Republicans were undermining efforts to keep the event safe.

Around the convention, law enforcement officials are also on alert for the mailing of suspicious packages, arson, property destruction and the exposure of public officials’ private information online, according to the threat assessment.

Election offices in multiple states reported receiving suspicious packages around the November 2023 gubernatorial and state legislative elections.

“We also remain concerned about the potential for hoax threats to disrupt the 2024 RNC, leading to evacuations and closures of political events, as well as straining law enforcement resources,” the document says.

The large influx of out-of-state visitors could also be a boon for sex traffickers, officials warned.

“The FBI anticipates victims will arrive in Wisconsin and advertise online or in locations known to offer sexual services in the weeks prior to the events,” according to the assessment.

Republican convention in Milwaukee could be ‘attractive’ target for violent extremists, federal assessment says

Share

Share

Share

Top Picks