The Department of Homeland Security has issued a memo that warns that activists on both sides of the abortion issue may react with violence when the U.S. Supreme Court issues its ruling on an abortion rights case.
Axios published the unclassified memo warning that judges, court buildings, politicians, clergy and abortion clinics could be targets.
Axios asked for comment from the DHS and received this response:
“DHS is also committed to working with our partners across every level of government and the private sector to share timely information and intelligence, prevent all forms of violence, and to support law enforcement efforts to keep our communities safe.”
According to the memo, the agency said it had “moderate confidence” in the quality of the intelligence it had gathered about potential domestic violence extremists. DHS said federal law enforcement agencies have opened investigations into several of the online threats.
The National Capital Region Threat Intelligence Consortium, a regional intelligence hub that tracks domestic terrorism threats, has referred at least 25 violent online posts for further investigation.
The memo says that some of the threats posted online included threats of “burning down or storming the U.S. Supreme Court and murdering Justices and their clerks, members of Congress, and lawful demonstrators.”
The Supreme Court voted to strike down the landmark Roe v. Wade decision, according to a draft majority opinion written by Justice Samuel Alito circulated inside the court and obtained by Politico earlier this month.
The final ruling is expected in late June or early July.
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