Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting a briefing on radical right-wing extremist militias arming themselves and preparing to commit violent acts around the 2024 election as well as the Bureau’s efforts to monitor and prevent acts of violence.
“As the 2024 election nears, concerns are growing once again for potential
unrest and violence,” Rep. Watson Coleman writes in the letter. “In June of this year, WIRED magazine published an article entitled ‘A January 6 Rioter Is Leading an Armed National Militia From Prison.’ The article names Edward ‘Jake’ Lang – a rioter arrested for his actions on January 6th – in leading an effort to create a nationwide network of armed militias in all 50 states.”
The group in question, who call themselves the North American Patriot and Liberty Militia (NAPALM), claims to have thousands of extremists in their ranks who are actively preparing for “civil unrest” with their membership in this “pro-gun organization.”
“We know that political tensions are often high during an election cycle, but to openly prepare for civil unrest, and the readiness to commit acts of violence is a warning we must take seriously,” the letter continues. “Many of the same people organizing these efforts and similar groups across the country were either direct participants or are connected to the election overturn efforts of 2020.”
To ensure the Congress is informed of and prepared for the threats posed by right-wing extremist militias like NAPALM, Congresswoman Watson Coleman requests in her letter a briefing to address the following questions:
- What does the FBI currently know about the North American Patriot and Liberty Militia and other similar militia groups? Can the FBI identify and explain their motivations and goals?
- What are the relationships between these militia groups and any individuals who participated in, or planned, the January 6th, 2021, storming of the United States Capitol?
- How many implicated individuals are currently awaiting trial? In prison? Have completed their sentence?
- What preventative measures are being taken to ensure we do not experience similar acts of violence on January 6th, 2025? What preventative measures are being taken to ensure we do not experience similar acts of violence in relation to the casting and counting of votes?
- How can we ensure that regardless of the results of the election, a peaceful transfer of power between the outgoing administration and incoming president is preserved?
Full text of the letter can be found here.
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Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat from New Jersey, has recently sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray requesting information on militia groups in the United States. This comes in the wake of the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, which was carried out by a mob of pro-Trump supporters, some of whom were affiliated with militia groups.
In her letter, Watson Coleman expressed concern about the rise of militia groups in the country and their potential to incite violence and undermine democracy. She specifically asked for information on the number of militia groups currently operating in the U.S., their membership numbers, their activities and tactics, and any potential threats they may pose to public safety.
The FBI has long been monitoring militia groups in the U.S., as they have been linked to a number of violent incidents in recent years. These groups often espouse extremist ideologies and are known to stockpile weapons and engage in paramilitary training exercises.
Watson Coleman’s request for information from the FBI is part of a broader effort by lawmakers to address the growing threat posed by domestic extremist groups. In the wake of the Capitol attack, there has been increased scrutiny on these groups and calls for law enforcement agencies to take action to prevent further violence.
It remains to be seen how the FBI will respond to Watson Coleman’s request for information on militia groups. However, it is clear that there is a pressing need for greater transparency and accountability when it comes to monitoring and addressing the activities of these dangerous organizations. Only by understanding the scope and scale of the threat posed by militia groups can we hope to effectively combat their influence and prevent future acts of violence.
