Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee released a comprehensive report titled “Planned in Plain Sight” that reveals a series of alarming failures by the F.B.I., the Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies leading up to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. This 106-page report builds upon previous evidence uncovered by the House Jan. 6 committee and provides the most detailed understanding to date of the security and intelligence breakdowns that resulted in the Capitol’s deadliest assault in centuries.
To draft the report, Senate staff obtained thousands of additional documents from federal law enforcement agencies, including the Justice Department. The report exposes numerous instances of incitement to violence, calls to occupy federal buildings (including the Capitol), and explicit threats that were largely ignored or minimized. It even includes a warning that the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, was planning to engage in lethal acts in Washington.
Senator Gary Peters, the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, expressed deep disappointment in the intelligence agencies, stating that they repeatedly downplayed the severity of the threat and failed to share crucial intelligence with law enforcement partners.
The report also highlights a crucial flaw in the F.B.I.’s monitoring of social media threats—just days before the attack, the bureau changed contracts for third-party social media monitoring, resulting in degraded capabilities. Internal emails reveal that F.B.I. officials were taken aback by the timing of the contract change and the detrimental impact it would have on their monitoring efforts leading up to January 6.
However, the investigation concluded that the monitoring issue was not the sole problem. The F.B.I. was criticized for its failure to act upon numerous critical warnings. For example, on January 3, 2021, the F.B.I. became aware of multiple social media posts calling for violence. The Justice Department also noted concerning posts on January 4, discussing occupying federal buildings and invading the Capitol, and individuals arming themselves for political violence. Surprisingly, the report reveals that even top F.B.I. leaders claimed to be unaware that Congress could come under siege.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis also faced criticism in the report. On January 2, the agency discovered online sharing of a map of the Capitol and an employee expressed concern that individuals might attempt to harm politicians. Despite such explicit concerns, agency analysts seemed to dismiss these threats, even as the warned violence unfolded. In fact, on January 6, after the police had declared a riot and the Capitol was on lockdown, online chatter calling for more violent actions was internally acknowledged, but analysts concluded that no credible information had been established at that time.
Both the F.B.I. and the Department of Homeland Security emphasized their collaboration with law enforcement agencies, including the Capitol Police, during the lead-up to and on the day of the attack. They claim to have set up command posts and had tactical assets ready to deploy if assistance was requested. Following the attack, both agencies pledged to enhance their focus on swift information sharing with law enforcement partners and provide improvements to aid investigators and analysts in all their field offices throughout the investigative process.
A representative for the Department of Homeland Security stated that the agency has implemented measures to strengthen intelligence analysis, information sharing, and operational preparedness to prevent acts of violence and ensure community safety.
While this report is not the first to expose significant security failures surrounding the January 6 attack, it aims to fill in some gaps left by previous investigations. The House committee conducting the investigation faced criticism for its focus on former President Donald J. Trump’s role in overturning the 2020 election, rather than adequately addressing law enforcement’s intelligence failures.
Overall, the Senate Homeland Security Committee’s report sheds new light on the neglect, downplaying, and mishandling of crucial intelligence leading up to the Capitol attack, highlighting the need for systemic improvements in our nation’s security apparatus.
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