Insider threat forecast predicts risk of violence from general election fraud, feds warn

CHICAGO (WLS) — Ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington were detonated early Monday morning, one of many domestic terrorist threats that federal agencies, including the FBI, have been warning about for months.

Now, a little more than a week before general electionit looks like the notifications are turning into reality.

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last month, The ABC 7 I-Team first reported to federal intelligence warnings that violent domestic extremists may target ballot boxes and other election equipment. Early in the morning on the northwest coast, these fears came true.

News of the burning of ballot boxes comes after the I-Team obtained a copy of a new, broader warning issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis on Monday morning that focuses on threat actors who could potentially use election fraud claims . contribute to general election-related violence in the coming weeks.

“Some people are calling for violence in response to narratives of election fraud, mainly against election officials and the public, which threat actors believe threaten the integrity of the 2024 general election,” the federal bulletin said. “Some individuals, motivated by this story, have announced their intention online to intimidate voters or election personnel by surveilling election infrastructure or personnel, including armed individuals.”

The threat assessment was echoed in a dire assessment by US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director Jen Easterly last Friday.

“Election officials face very real physical threats, threats of harassment, violence, beatings, bullying, threats against election officials of both parties and their families, mostly stemming from unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election did not reflect the will of the American people. of the people, said Easterly.

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Election experts and federal authorities say disinformation plays a major role in breeding threats.

“Disinformation is definitely part of it,” said cybersecurity professor Jason Perry, Ph.D., who teaches at Lewis University. “And the people who create and spread the disinformation, they know exactly what messages, not just words, but video images, are going to motivate people who are, you know, potentially vulnerable to violent acts because of their beliefs and the things that they believe.”

An investigation is underway into who detonated ballot boxes in the Pacific Northwest early Monday morning. Authorities suspect the same attacker set fire to ballot boxes in Oregon and Washington, just 10 miles apart.

The crimes are consistent with a pattern of domestic violence by extremists that has federal officials concerned.

Since the last election, there have been limited federal arrests related to violent acts and threats made by individuals identified as extremists against election officials.

At least 12 people have been convicted of threatening violence against officials or volunteers during the 2020 general election and 2022 midterm elections.

Despite the warnings, federal election officials are confident the Nov. 5 election will be safe.

“We know that election officials have been preparing for this election for years,” Easterly said. “They’ve been training, they’ve been training, they’re prepared and they have action plans for the full range of disruptions.”