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JANUARY 6, 2021, US CAPITOL ATTACK: AN ACT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM?
Student's Name
INTL451: Terrorism and US National Security
Date Submitted
1
Introduction
The wrenching pain of domestic terrorism is not a new problem in the United States or
one that can be wished away. Domestic terror attacks have been frequently perpetuated by
homegrown terrorists, radicals, and insurgent extremists opposing government institutions
(Kundnani 2012). The US government, including the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and
Department of Homeland Security (DHS), defines domestic terrorism as encompassing acts that
are "dangerous to human life" – acts committed within the borders of the US that outrightly
violate the criminal laws of the US or any other state (FBI, 2020, 1). It is also imperative to note
that acts of domestic terrorism are aimed at intimidating or coercing civilian populations,
influencing government policies, or affecting the government's conduct through actions such as
mass destruction of property, killing of innocent civilians, assassinations, or kidnappings.
Distinguishing whether a specific attack within the territorial jurisdiction of the US is an act of
domestic terrorism remains a matter of interpretation and legal determination. Take, for instance,
before regarding the events that tools place at the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, as an
act of domestic attack; it is imperative to provide some context and consider if all critical aspects
of the event align with the defining elements of domestic terrorism. This essay critically analyses
the US Capitol Building attack/insurrection
to determine if it qualifies as an act of domestic
terrorism.
Summary of the event
The US Capitol Building attack, or Capitol Riot, was a widely condemned act of violence
that targeted the heart of America's democracy. Hundreds of violent protestors, who were
purportedly supporters of President Donald Trump, who had just been defeated in the 2020
presidential elections, attacked the Capitol to avert a joint session of the US Congress from
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affirming the presidential results and formalizing the then president-elect Joe Biden's victory
(
Challacombe and Carol 2022). Based on findings by law enforcement agencies, the protestors
acted on account of President Trump's claims that the elections were fraudulent and that there
was a need to "Stop the Steal." The large number of protestors made it easy for them to
overwhelm the police and breach the security barricades around the Capitol. The violent
protestors stormed the building, vandalized property, and looted offices (including the office of
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi).
Additionally, the rioters attempted to locate lawmakers to harm them. Following the
building's security breach, the Capitol Police had to evacuate members of Congress and Vice
President Mike Pence and lock down the chambers of Congress as well as other buildings within
the complex. Other than the threat of physical violence, the riots were especially intense and
unpredictable, especially considering rioters had erected a gallows to the West of the Capitol
where some protestors chanted "Hang Mike Pence!" (
Aumer 2021). Furthermore, Molotov
cocktails (which is basically crude bomb) were discovered in one of the vehicles near the
Capitol. Even worse, pipe bombs were found in each of the Democratic and Republican National
Committee headquarters. Although President Trump has contested sending the National Guard to
quell the rioters, he later that day tweeted that the election was fraudulent and urged his supporter
to "go home in peace". By evening, the Capitol building was clear of rioters. At least four people
died, and tens of others (including police officers) suffered physical injuries (Rudden 2021).
After the attack, the US government tightened security around the Capitol Building and initiated
arrests and investigations to identify and bring into account the people responsible for the
violence (
Challacombe and Carol 2022).
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Analysis: Matching critical parts of the event with the defining elements of domestic
terrorism
An exhaustive evaluation of the attack that took place at the Capitol Building points to
the understanding that certain critical aspects of the attack align with the defining elements of
domestic terrorism. Firstly, according to the US government, domestic terrorism is the
intentional use of unlawful violence, intimidation, and coercion (FBI 2020). The DHS also
highlights that domestic terrorism entails the use of a threat of force that is dangerous to human
life (
Stigall et al. 2020
). This definition aligns with the insurrection that happened on January 6,
2021, at the capitol building. Markedly, the violent protestors/attackers deliberately employed
violence and intimidation against the law enforcement officers and the members of Congress
who had convened at the house for a joint session to affirm the presidential results and formalize
Biden's victory. The discovery of the Molotov cocktails and the erection of a gallows to the West
of the Capitol (where some protestors chanted phrases like "hang Mike Pence!") is clear proof of
violence and the intent to intimidate members of Congress into doing their bidding. Another
defining element of domestic terrorism is that it aims to destroy property within the territorial
jurisdiction of the United States. The Capitol Building is a symbolically important building that
serves as the heart of American democracy. Heine (2021) affirms that the US capitol symbolizes
the rule of law, democratic process, and peaceful transition of power. Targeting this institution,
therefore, was a way of undermining and intimidating the US government as well as democracy.
Thirdly, underlying ideological motivation can be a defining element of domestic
terrorism. These ideological motivations are often driven by extremist political ideologies that
seek to overturn existing systems or anti-government sentiments (
Aumer 2021). In the case of
the Capitol Riots, the attackers were primarily driven by shared political ideologies or
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convictions that the election was fraudulent. However, claims of widespread voter fraud were
hinged on baseless claims perpetuated by the then President, Donald Trump, with an aim to get
his supporters to prevent the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Another defining
aspect of domestic terrorism is that it targets a wide audience/civilian population (
Kundnani
2012; FBI 2020). The Capitol Riots align with this portrayal because the attack significantly
impacted the immediate audience (civilian populations, journalists, and law enforcement
officers) and the broader population across the US. Millions of people across and beyond the
territorial jurisdiction of the United States watched the riots unravel in real-time, which raised a
lot of concerns and instilled fear throughout the nation. Just like any other act of domestic
terrorism, the attackers aimed to pass a message to both lawmakers and the public, attempting to
intimidate and influence political decision-making. Finally, acts of domestic terrorism involve
"non-state actors," groups, or perpetrators within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States
without direct foreign influence (Merkushin 2022, 66). The Capitol Building attack, for instance,
was primarily carried out by domestic actors disguised as angry protestors demanding
transparency in the electoral process.
Conclusion
In recapitulation, distinguishing whether an attack within the territorial jurisdiction of the
US is an act of domestic terrorism is largely a matter of interpretation and legal determination.
The insurrection of the US Capitol, for instance, can be classified as an act of domestic terrorism,
especially since most of the events of this attack align with the statutory definition, underlying
motivations, and the threat it poses to national security. The attack was widely condemned by
political leaders, both Republicans and Democrats, who believed it was an assault on US
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democracy. As such, it serves as a wake-up call, necessitating a comprehensive reevaluation of
national security policies to address the rising tide of domestic extremism more effectively.
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References
Aumer, Katherine V. 2021
The Psychology of Extremism
. Springer Nature.
Challacombe, Darin, and Carol Patrick. 2022. "The January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol:
What the TRAP-18 can tell us about the Participants."
Journal of Threat Assessment and
Management
.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2020. "Domestic Terrorism: Definitions, Terminology, and
Methodology."
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
, (Pub. L. 116-
92).
Heine, Jorge. 2021. "The Attack on the US Capitol: An American Kristallnacht."
Protest
, 1(1):
126-141.
Kundnani, Arun. 2012. "Radicalization: the journey of a concept."
Race & Class,
54(2): 3-25.
Меrkushin, Vladimir V. 2022. "Non-state actors as quasi-subjects of transnational organized
crime: implications for the security of states."
Journal of the Belarusian State University.
International Relations,
1: 66-73.
Rudden, Marie G. 2021. "Insurrection in the US Capitol: Understanding psychotic, projective
and introjective group processes."
International Journal of Applied Psychoanalytic
Studies
, 18(4): 372-384.
Stigall, Dan E., Chris Miller, and Lauren Donatucci. 2020. "The 2018 US National Strategy for
Counterterrorism: A Synoptic Overview."
Nat'l Sec. L. Brief
10: 1.