CHARLESTON, SC — Joe Biden announces to crowds: “I have a simple proposition here. I’m here to ask for your help... My name is Joe Biden and I’m a candidate for United States Senate. Look me over.”
Tom Steyer: “You guys own my heart. I’m not walking away from South Carolina.”
New: U.S. Secret Service Acting Director Ron Rowe confirms to @CBSNews that July 13th was the first time that counter snipers were assigned to a 2024 campaign event by former President Donald Trump.
USSS Director Rowe also tells me USSS counter snipers did not have radio communications w/ local law enforcement.
Instead, local tactical teams *texted* U.S. Secret Service counter snipers pictures of Crooks at 5:45pm.
At that time, neither locals nor USSS knew Crooks had a gun
Rowe said at 6:11pm, a member of Trump’s protective detail contacted a counterpart with the Pittsburgh Field Office to ask about an earlier radio communication about local law enforcement working an issue near the perimeter. While he was on the phone, the first shots were fired.
NEW: @CBSNews has learned of a shooting outside a Duke Energy facility in Ridgeway, SC, Wednesday. An individual in a truck opened fire near crews outside the Wateree Hydro Station around 5:30pm, before speeding away, according to multiple sources. No one was injured. [1/x]
Duke Energy says they are working with FBI to investigate.
"We are aware of reports of gunfire near the Wateree Hydro Station in Ridgeway SC," a spox told @CBSNews. "No individuals were harmed. There are no outages reported. There is no known property damage at this time." [2/x]
Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan told @WLTX, Wednesday, "We take this seriously." According to the sheriff, initial reports indicated an individual opened fire near trees lining the powerplant. It remains unclear if the facility was targeted. [3/x]
NEW: Days before midterms, the U.S. is warning of a “heightened threat” to the 2022 elections, fueled by a rise in domestic violent extremism and driven by ideological grievances & access to potential targets, according to a joint intelligence bulletin obtained by @CBSNews. [1/x]
“Potential targets of DVE violence include candidates running for public office, elected officials, election workers, political rallies, political party representatives, racial & religious minorities or perceived ideological opponents,” the DHS, FBI, NCTC, USCP memo states. [2/x]
The bulletin also warns extremists might target state & local government fixtures *after* the election.
Potential targets include officials or private companies associated with vote counting/certifications and judicial figures involved in election-related legal challenges. [3/x]
NEW: DHS has warned law enforcement partners of "new content online that could inspire violence particularly by lone offenders" in a threat update obtained by @CBSNews
No indication of a specific or credible plot, but DHS & FBI have observed online activity directed at lawmakers
MORE: A video shared in a QAnon-friendly forum “calling for Congresspeople to be hung in from of the White House" surfaced in the past 48 hours, DHS' Office of Intelligence & Analysis cautions in its threat update.
It has been viewed 60,000 times ahead of the Jan 6. anniversary.
[3/3]: Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police, and DC Metropolitan Police have been made aware of the increases in extremist online activity, prompting investigations, according to the threat update.
Federal Protective Service has expanded patrols at federal facilities nationwide.
Attorney General Garland: "The Justice Department remains committed to holding all January 6th perpetrators, at any level, accountable under law — whether they were present that day or were otherwise criminally responsible for the assault on our democracy."
ATTORNEY GENERAL GARLAND: "In 2021, the Department charged more defendants in criminal threat cases than in any year in at least the last five."
Attorney General Garland quotes the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia to make his point: "As Justice Scalia noted in R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, true 'threats of violence are outside the 1st Amendment' because laws that punish such threats “protect individuals..." [1/2]
THREAD — Reporters toured the temporary border facility in Donna, TX today.
The Biden admin allowed pooled coverage for the first time.
We saw a “pod” designed for 32 migrant children under CDC guidelines now holding 615.
The facility is at 1700% pandemic capacity.
📸:TV Pool
Unaccompanied migrant children ages 4 months - 9 years old are now being held in the recreational area around the clock because there’s no just room for them in the dormitory areas.
The outdoor recreational area is being used to stage COVID testing before unaccompanied migrant children are transferred to HHS facilities.
We counted more than 50 COVID positive (and largely asymptomatic) kids waiting for their quarantined bus right next to a soccer game.