The arrest at the US Capitol raises fears of election violence

WASHINGTON — An arrest Tuesday at the Capitol of a man who police said was carrying a torch and smelled of fuel underscored the election day anxiety gripping the nation’s capital.

US Capitol Police stopped visitors from entering the complex to investigate the incident.

The arrest came amid security threats, vote misinformation and fears of violent protests over the deadlocked presidential race.

The FBI warned Tuesday that two fake videos are circulating, one warning of a terrorist threat raised at polling stations and urging Americans to “vote remotely.”

“This video is not authentic and does not accurately represent the current threat situation or polling place security,” the FBI said in a statement.

Another fabricated video disguised as an official FBI press release alleges that officials at five prisons in the various key states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona rigged inmate voting and colluded with a political party. “This video is also not authentic and its content is false,” the FBI said.

Some downtown Washington businesses, shops and restaurants have taken the extraordinary precaution of banding together in case the outcome of the historic election between former President Donald Trump and vice president Kamala Harris provoke violent demonstrations.

“I want to be very clear: we will not tolerate any violence of any kind,” Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith warned on the eve of the election. “We will not tolerate any riots. We will not tolerate destruction of property. We will not tolerate any illegal behavior. The perpetrators will be arrested and prosecuted.”

The Secret Service had already fortified the White House and the Vice President’s residence at the Naval Observatory and other federal landmarks with 8 foot high fence as electoral denial conspiracies spread across the internet.

The FBI and other U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the Department of Justice, Secret Service, Capitol Police, Department of Homeland Security and Election Assistance Commission, are operating a 24-hour national election command post through at least November 9.

“What all these people are doing is sorting through information,” James Barnacle, deputy director of the FBI’s investigative division, said in a statement. “We’ve been receiving information at the FBI for the past few days.”

Meanwhile, election officials in Fulton County, Georgia, where Trump has been indicted for allegedly trying to overturn the state’s 2020 election results, responded to bomb threats on Tuesday.

Officials in Washington say they monitor and respond to any federal election crimes, threats to poll workers, foreign influence meddling, cyber threats and acts of domestic terrorism.

“When the information is threatening and amounts to a violation of federal laws, then we look to take action,” Barnacle said.

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