[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 104 (Tuesday, June 15, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S4524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           DOMESTIC TERRORISM

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, finally, on one final matter, QAnon, last 
December, I joined with Senator Heinrich and other Democrats to ask the 
FBI and DHS to provide a written assessment on the dangers posed by the 
online conspiracy group QAnon.
  They recently responded to our request with a very sobering 
assessment. The threat of QAnon is likely to persist, and the current 
environment will likely continue to spur QAnon adherents to see 
violence as a legitimate course of action. The assessment also 
expresses that QAnon adherents and domestic violent extremists will 
likely shift from acting digitally to engaging in real world violence. 
That is a shot across our bow. That is a warning signal.
  QAnon today is perhaps best known for the role it played in inspiring 
many of the rioters who assaulted the U.S. Capitol on January 6. 
According to the FBI's assessment, they arrested 20 self-identified 
adherents who participated in the insurrection. But even before the 
horrific events on January 6, QAnon supporters spread disinformation 
that amplified hatred and violence and threatened our democratic 
institutions.
  The past 4 years have seen a notable increase in violent domestic 
terrorism, fed by a host of lies and conspiracies that flourished under 
the Trump era. This assessment by the FBI is a stark reminder that we 
have a lot of work to do to tamp down conspiracy theories and 
disinformation as well as monitoring and thwarting violent domestic 
extremists.
  And to my Republican Senate colleagues, I would add that this report 
further strengthens the argument for an independent January 6 
Commission.
  I yield the floor.

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