Posted on 06/24/2021 7:24:10 PM PDT by RandFan
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official told members of Congress on Wednesday that there is concern in the department regarding conspiracy theories that former President Trump will be reinstated in August, Politico reports.
Sources familiar with the exchange said top DHS counterterrorism official John Cohen shared these concerns while speaking in a members only briefing with the House Homeland Security Committee.
Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) reportedly asked Cohen how DHS is monitoring the spread of disinformation and conspiracy as well as how they fuel violence, specifically pointing to the Trump reinstatement conspiracy theory that has become popular among QAnon followers.
According to Politico's sources, Cohen said that DHS had not found anything linking violence to the conspiracy theory that Trump will be reinstated, though he did say the department was following online discussions in extremist communities.
Cohen said that DHS was highly concerned about the conspiracy theory, however, as it fuels the narrative that the election was rigged, which could in turn spark violence among extremists.
The Hill has reached out to DHS for comment.
A Hill-HarrisX poll released last week found that 30 percent of Republican voters believe Trump will be reinstated in August, though there is no legal or constitutional maneuver that could feasibly return the former U.S. president to office in the midst of President Biden's own term.
Trump himself has reportedly told acquaintances that he expects to be reinstated in August.
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said earlier in June that the large number of Republicans who believe this conspiracy theory is a “glaring warning on the persistent acceptance of the stolen election narrative."
“They believe him when he just abjectly lies. It is a glaring warning that the Big Lie has created fertile ground for all sorts of insane conspiracy," he said on the Senate floor, referring to Trump's belief that the election was stolen from him.
“Of course, the idea of 'reinstatement' comes from disgraced former President Trump himself and is nothing more than the deluded ramblings of a defeated politician,” Schumer added.
FAKE NEWS
Proving an election was stolen is not terrorism unless you are terrified of being executed for the crimes you committed stealing it.
A convenient excuse to come and get us. Well,come and get me.
What is our security advisory system color?
I think the DHS has gone over the edge in their own concocted conspiracy thinking. LOL Step away from the watercooler.
Needs to be engraved on a plaque.
Is DHS scheduling another insurrection?
The definition of terrorism used by bureaucrats and politicians is overly broad and can be used to classify anyone a terrorist
Some of us tried to warn you about this at the time when all these laws and departments were gleefully passed.
Yup, this is Lin Wood and God love him, Mike Lindell. Not sure about Mike Flynn as far as him having said something similar. There’s quite a group that seems all gung ho and confident that things will be fixed soon. Steve Bannon has been talking like that since Nov 3rd. “We’re gonna get to the bottom of this folks”. It’s all very Qurios.
One grade above "Deplorables".
Bush and Bush League Republicans knew exactly what they were doing when passing anti-terror laws and creating the DHS/TSA, etc.
It was always meant for the domestic population and not just Muslims or Islamic extremists as it was sold otherwise they would have defined it better.
President Trump had people issuing him death threats on TV.
Some stupid skank even holding his beheaded head and that is not terrorism?
Democrats make their own fake rules.
They run fake elections.
F’ them and their F’ed up brains-what few they have.
It’s crazy to think that but FR does have Q threads so yeah, they’re watching...
Got anything to say to them? :)
Are they scared he will be reinstated?
“Some of us tried to warn you about this at the time when all these laws and departments were gleefully passed.”
Dictators need boogeymen. Or these days, boogeypersons.
Government bureaucracies have a thousand stomachs and no brain.
If the American establishment wants to steer people away from conspiracy theories, maybe they should stop contributing to them.
Hey upchucky KMA, FOAD, DROP DEAD, ESAD AND STFU you POS !!!
Since the whole fed gov is being turned against conservatives I’m hopeful that their will be serious pushback on these laws and departments
The problem is the system is broke - especially in Congress - nothing will be done even if the Republicans controlled the entire government they wouldn’t do anything about it!
I see the problem as Congressional leadership (McCarthy and McConnell) but once they leave some other stooge will replace them and so it goes on and on.
Quite sad.
You can elect an outsider president like Trump but you can’t replace 300 members of Congress so easily.
This is how they win.
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