Michael
A. Clancy
Deputy
Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division
Federal
Bureau of Investigation
Statement
Before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil
Rights, and Human Rights
Washington,
D.C.
September
19, 2012
Good Morning, Chairman Durbin, Ranking
Member Graham, and members of the subcommittee. It is my honor to come before
you to represent the Counterterrorism Division of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation to discuss one of the highest priorities of the Bureau: the
threat posed by domestic extremists.
On September 10, 2012, the FBI
disseminated its National Terrorism Assessment on Domestic Terrorism. In the
formulation of this assessment, the overall threat ranking considers intent,
capability, and posture in its determination of the threat domestic extremist
movements pose in the United States. The FBI assesses that economic and
political events—foremost among them the coming presidential election—are
likely to provoke domestic extremists into a more active state, although this
is unlikely to drive an increase in large-scale violence. Smaller, localized acts
of violence committed by domestic extremists, however, cannot be dismissed. The
FBI further assesses that domestic extremist movements pose a medium to low
terrorism threat. Specific political and economic events scheduled in 2012
create the potential for greater volatility within domestic extremism than
existed in the previous year.
In recent months, the FBI has seen
numerous examples of domestic terrorism and violence committed by lone
offenders or small cells. For example, this year the FBI proactively dismantled
an anarchist extremist cell comprised of five men who planned to blow up a
bridge in Cleveland, Ohio. Four members of the cell have pleaded guilty, and
the fifth member is going to trial. In November 2011, four members of a militia
in Georgia were arrested for planning to acquire silencers and explosives to
use against various U.S. government targets in Atlanta, Georgia. To date, two
of the subjects have been sentenced to 60 months incarceration and three years
of supervised release for conspiracy to possess an unregistered destructive
device. This summer, we have witnessed multiple high-profile lone-offender
shootings. The FBI investigated each of these incidents in partnership with
federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies as potential acts of
domestic terrorism. Three of these shootings—at a movie theater in Aurora,
Colorado; at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin; and at the Family Research Council
headquarters in Washington, D.C.—resulted in the combined deaths of 18
individuals and the wounding of over 50.
Significant political events and
scheduled international and economic meetings combined with ongoing economic
concerns create the potential for greater volatility within domestic extremism
in 2012 than existed in the previous year. While all domestic extremist
movements pose a threat, the following potential outcomes are especially
relevant in the current environment:
■Election-related events heighten the
opportunity for anarchist extremism in 2012.
■The 2012 election process may
revitalize recruitment efforts for the white supremacist extremist movement.
■Militia extremists are expected to
continue targeting law enforcement and government officials in response to any
recently enacted legislation that is perceived as infringing on their
constitutional rights.
■White-collar crime by those in the
extremist “sovereign citizen” anti-government movement who exploit the housing
crisis could continue if the housing sector of the economy remains weak in
2012.
■Environmental extremists may engage in
criminal activity—including the destruction of property—if they perceive that
legislative efforts to protect and preserve the environment are ineffective or
unsuccessful.
Over the next year, domestic extremists
are likely to maintain the intent and capability to pose a persistent threat
involving smaller-scale bombings, assaults, firearms and explosives violations,
arson, white-collar crime, threats, and other violations of federal law. The
FBI will continue to enhance its crucial partnerships with federal, state,
local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agencies; other members of the U.S.
intelligence community; and the private sector to combat the unrelenting threat
of domestic terrorism.
In every domestic terrorism
investigation—and indeed, in every investigation—we in the Bureau strive to
balance the need to keep the American public safe with the need to protect
constitutional rights, including the First Amendment rights to free speech and
freedom of assembly. Intelligence and technology are key tools we use to stay
ahead of those who would do us harm. Yet, as we evolve and update our
investigative techniques and our use of technology to keep pace with today’s
complex threat environment, we must always act within the confines of the rule
of law and the safeguards guaranteed by the Constitution. It is not enough to
stop the terrorists; we must always do so while maintaining civil rights and
civil liberties. Following the rule of law and upholding civil rights and civil
liberties—these are not our burdens. These are what make all of us safer and
stronger. In the end, we in the FBI will be judged not only by our ability to
keep Americans safe from terrorism, by also by whether we safeguard the civil
rights and civil liberties for which we are fighting and maintain the trust of
the American people.
Thank you for the opportunity to address
the subcommittee on the FBI’s efforts to counter domestic terrorism. I will
gladly address any questions you may have.
Posts
