The FBI is working with law enforcement authorities in Colorado following threats made against state Supreme Court justices who ruled last week to remove Donald Trump from the state's 2024 presidential ballot.
“The FBI is aware of the situation and working with local authorities,” Vikki Migoya, FBI public affairs officer, said in a statement to CNN this Monday (25).
“We will continue to investigate any threat or use of violence committed by someone who uses extremist views to justify their actions, regardless of motivation.”
A spokesman for the Colorado Judiciary declined to comment on reports of threats to judges, and a message left with the Denver Police Department was not returned.
Gary Cutler, a spokesman for the Colorado State Patrol, said any threats against judges would be handled by local authorities.
In addition to the federal response, state and local law enforcement authorities and nongovernmental investigative groups have been monitoring rhetoric in online extremist forums for signs that could translate into tangible threats to public officials.
The names of the four Colorado Supreme Court justices who ruled to disqualify Trump from the vote have appeared frequently in posts on such forums, with calls to expose the justices' personal data, according to an analysis of the online conversation prepared by a partisan research organization for US law enforcement agencies, obtained by CNN .
While the analysis found no specific threats to the judges, it stated that “the risk of lone actor or small group violence or other illegal activities continues to exist in response to the ruling.”
A user of a pro-Trump far-right website posted: “All clothed rats should be hanged,” an apparent reference to Colorado judges.
The posts reflected a pattern of online activity seen after previous federal indictments against Trump: vague calls for civil war and disturbingly violent language, but few specific plans for acting on those threats.
In an unprecedented decision last week, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled by four votes to three that Trump is not an eligible presidential candidate due to the 14th Amendment's “insurrectionist ban” and therefore cannot appear on the state's ballot when voters gather for the scheduled Republican primaries. there for March 5th.
The decision will be suspended until January 4, pending Trump's appeal to the US Supreme Court, which could decide the issue for the entire country.
Trump himself verbally attacked some opponents in court in a separate case and was banned from speaking about witnesses as well as prosecutors, court staff and family members.
A CNN reported earlier this month on the spate of threats aimed at public officials this year, including a recent outburst of threats aimed at some GOP holdouts in the failed effort to give far-right Rep. Jim Jordan the job of speaker of the House , another around Trump's accusations, and yet another targeting progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar – who has historically been critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians – after the start of the war between Hamas and Israel.
Federal law enforcement officials have been wary of being caught off guard by the potential for online rhetoric to translate into real-world violence since the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol that left several people dead.
Before the insurrection, protesters “essentially planned [o ataque] in plain sight on social media,” but the FBI and Department of Homeland Security have failed to extinguish the threat, according to a Senate report released in June.
See also: Supreme Court postpones decision on Trump's immunity
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
