Since Nov. 1, an FBI command submit has been working 24/7 and can proceed to for no less than 9 days to to make sure the election is protected and safe.
“This command submit is a chance for us to carry individuals collectively, all of the completely different material specialists right here within the FBI at headquarters and within the area, and we herald our companions so the intelligence and threats that are available in, and we are able to disseminate that data to the important thing companions, which is state and native officers round the US,” mentioned Jim Barnacle, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s Felony Investigative Division.
Easy methods to watch ABC Information reside protection of 2024 election outcomes.
FBI officers sit within the election safety command middle at FBI headquarters on Nov. 4, 2024.
ABC Information
The command submit is staffed with 80 individuals from greater than a dozen companies from the U.S. Capitol Police to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
The FBI is concentrated on felony threats, resembling threats to election employees, overseas malign affect, cyberthreats and acts of violence.
Barnacle mentioned there have been some overseas operations that they’ve seen in addition to “some tried cyber assaults.”
“Russia, China and Iran are looking for to affect us, authorities, coverage and politics for his or her profit, they’re additionally seeking to undermine democracy, sow discord and undermine Washington’s standing on the planet,” he mentioned.
Final week, the intelligence neighborhood discovered that Russian actors have been behind a video purporting to point out Haitian migrants voting in Georgia.
Additionally in Georgia, there was a denial of service assault on the secretary of state’s workplace. Officers are prepared for these incidents to happen and stress there isn’t any materials impacting on voting, Barnacle mentioned.
“The FBI is all these threats that are available in right here within the command submit,” he mentioned. “We’re triaging that data.”
Barnacle mentioned the FBI realized from its 2016 and 2020 operations and have improved its communications. With regards to bodily threats, he mentioned it is necessary for state and locals to have the data they should act.
Deputy Assistant Director for the Felony Divison James Barnacle offers an interview with the TV pool at FBI headquarters on Nov. 4, 2024.
ABC Information
“We have realized our classes prior to now,” he mentioned. “We are attempting to share data.”
The FBI is not monitoring social media and desires to make sure the First Modification is adopted, however when threats are made that’s after they step in.
Persons are extra aware of how one can report issues that occur than in years previous, however that has resulted in solely a smaller uptick in reporting incidents, he mentioned.
“That is what we’re asking individuals to do after they see a risk of violence or they see a overseas malign affect operation, we’re asking individuals, in the event that they see threats of violence or they see felony exercise, to report that to state and native election officers and legislation enforcement,” he mentioned.
