It’s Time For US Marshals To Get On the Hunt
Domestic Terrorism in the Age of Trump
These have been days unlike others. This last week, I watched television in horror, didn’t sleep, and cried for my country. Now I worry about the safety of our President-Elect and Vice-President Elect. On January 6, 2021, domestic terrorists, spurred on by our sitting president, stormed our nation’s Capitol and forced our government officials to hide or run for cover, even as they performed their Constitutionally mandated duties.
Why were those charged with protecting our Capitol and its occupants not prepared for the obvious? For months, President Trump has made repeated calls for right-wing extremist groups to “take back our country” and “stop the steal.” Both he and the groups have made very public use of social media to recruit participants and organize an insurrection.
So how could it have happened? I am suspicious that it was all too easy. It is implausible to think the Capitol Police were caught off guard. Early reports indicate that Capitol police officials actively refused help from multiple agencies. As a former Deputy Director of the U.S. Marshals Service, I know that you never turn down professional assistance when offered. Those offering to respond should have, at minimum, been alerted to stand by.
With 30 years of federal law enforcement and security experience, I’ve grown to expect excellence from those who occupy senior leadership positions in our government, especially those in law enforcement. I presumed that the Capitol Police’s leadership had long ago established ongoing communications with every federal, state, and local agency with intelligence and law enforcement capabilities to determine risk assessment and establish emergency assistance procedures. It is clear, seeing the insurgence results, that, if any agreements existed, they were not activated. Had they been, it would not have taken hours for effective, substantial, and coordinated law enforcement response to reestablish control over the buildings and grounds. Further, the real purpose of the anarchists was not apparent to the responding agencies. Had it been, no one would have been allowed to leave without, at minimum, being identified and searched. The fence installed the next day was a little late.
After watching so many insurgents calmly taking selfies and proudly posting videos of their criminal activity themselves, we could proffer that they were simply the lower I.Q. portion of viewers of right-wing television, the ones that don’t realize or care they have been lied to, repeatedly. This simplified explanation fails to give an accurate picture of the terror that could have happened had the insurgents been entirely successful. What would have happened had they seized Vice President Pence, Speaker Pelosi, Leader McConnell, and others? Would they have been killed or used as bargaining chips? As it was, staffers and Capitol Police barely managed to barricade themselves from the mob who carried weapons, explosive devices, a noose, and multiple police-style flex cuffs. Bombs were left at both Democratic and Republican headquarters. There were chants to hang Vice President Pence; undoubtedly, the flex cuffs were brought in to subdue hostages. That they were unsuccessful was due to heroic action by many Capitol Police officers, smart Congressional staffers, and luck. It could have been and was supposed to have been, much worse.
Trump has made Domestic Terrorism more dangerous than it has ever been. He has brought together white supremacists, anarchists, and other saboteurs. I suspect that foreign agents have infiltrated their ranks as well, all with the idea of destroying democracy. It is disturbing that they had free rein over the Capitol and its grounds, as well as the tunnels connecting it to a multitude of other government and non-government facilities. Many had backpacks. What was in the backpacks as they entered or left? Did anyone plant listening devices or other tools of espionage? Was this a trial run for future assaults or merely a diversion while something else was happening? Many questions need answers.
I can’t know the answers, but I can encourage those responsible for finding them to do so quickly by all investigative means necessary. In the meantime, given that the same ground under siege yesterday is also the Inauguration site in two short weeks, I strongly urge the Presidential Inaugural Committee to move the Inauguration to another, safer area. These insurgents will make another attempt to disrupt our federal and state governments. The Inauguration is a significant target, and the level of protection must be as if we were repelling an invading army. Should it be determined that the site will not be moved, hopefully, in the short time remaining, the authorities will give the U.S. Secret Service all the resources necessary to re-secure the site and protect it until after the Inauguration.
Finally, as the enforcement arm of the United States government, the U.S. Marshals Service needs to start hunting down these insurgents. Since 1789 the U.S. Courts have been protecting our Constitution, and U.S. marshals have always protected the Court. A part of that protection requires marshals to hunt down those who break our laws and violate our Constitution and present them in front of the Court to face justice. That mission hasn’t changed. Still, given the urgency, creating a multi-agency Domestic Task Force is necessary. The threat is not over just because we have reclaimed the Capitol. All those allowed to go home will simply redouble their efforts until either they are successful in destroying our country or we put them all in jail. I’m betting on the marshals.
We pray that President-elect Biden is successful in changing the destructive “party over country” culture that is now pervasive in Washington DC and across our nation. Our Constitution gives all Americans the right to voice their opinions about our country’s direction, and through their non-suppressed vote, the ability to change it. But our Constitution does not confer the right to incite or participate in the mob violence the United States endured on January 6. We need to find our heart again, America. In the meantime, as Vice President Pence said at the end of his comments to Congress’s joint session, “Let’s get to work”!
Our citizens deserve nothing less.
Michael R. Ramon
Deputy Director, U.S. Marshals Service (Retired)
