U.S. Government Warns of “Heightened Threat” Ahead of Midterms

The U.S. government Friday warned of a “heightened threat” to the midterm elections due to a rise in domestic violent extremism and ideological grievances and access to potential targets, according to a joint intelligence bulletin obtained by CBS News.

“Potential targets of DVE violence include candidates running for public office, elected officials, election workers, political rallies, political party representatives, racial and religious minorities, or perceived ideological opponents,” the bulletin stated.

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The bulletin was issued the same day Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), was attacked in his home with a hammer by a man who was reportedly looking for the speaker. Paul Pelosi suffered a fracture to his skull and serious injuries to his right arm and hand.

The Department of Homeland Security, FBI, National Counterterrorism Center, and U.S. Capitol Police predict that “violence will largely be dependent on drivers such as personalized ideological grievances and the accessibility of potential targets throughout the election cycle,” and the “most plausible threat” comes from “lone offenders who leverage election-related issues to justify violence,” according to the bulletin.

This warning comes several days after a canvasser rallying votes on behalf of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) was brutally beaten. According to Rubio, the canvasser was wearing a T-shirt bearing Rubio’s name and a Gov. Ron DeSantis hat at the time of the assault.

Campaign events, polling places, ballot drop-box locations, political party offices, and voter registration sites, as well as infrastructure and personnel related to the election, could be targets for domestic violent extremists motivated by election-related grievances, according to the bulletin.

The bulletin notes polling locations and ballot drop boxes could be targeted for attack “because they prioritize accessibility to maximize exposure to potential voters, making them vulnerable to simple, easy-to-use weapons, like firearms, vehicles, edged weapons, and incendiary devices, which DVEs have used in the past.”

According to the intelligence memo, some domestic violent extremists “motivated by differing perceptions of issues like government overreach, firearms regulation, and immigration policy, will potentially view social and political tensions during the upcoming midterm election as an opportunity to use or promote violence in furtherance of their ideological goals.”

The bulletin warns problems with abortion and LGBTQ issues might be heightened due to an increase in focus due to the election and notes that domestic violent extremists have “levied violent threats targeting elected officials, individuals associated with abortion or LGBTQ+ issues, and facilities, locations, and organizations perceived as taking a stance on abortion or LGBTQ+ issues.”

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State and local government buildings, officials involved in counting votes and certifications, “judicial figures associated with election-related legal challenges, or private companies associated with vote counting” were listed as possible targets following the election, according to the bulletin.

The memo also notes that prolonged certifications could lead to “increased threats or calls for violence targeting state and local election officials because of potential perceptions of fraud surrounding the results, especially in close or highly contested elections.”