MichaelA. Clancy DeputyAssistant Director, Counterterrorism Division FederalBureau of Investigation
StatementBefore the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, CivilRights, and Human Rights Washington,D.C.
September19, 2012
On September 10, 2012, the FBIdisseminated its National Terrorism Assessment on Domestic Terrorism. In theformulation of this assessment, the overall threat ranking considers intent,capability, and posture in its determination of the threat domestic extremistmovements pose in the United States. The FBI assesses that economic andpolitical events—foremost among them the coming presidential election—arelikely to provoke domestic extremists into a more active state, although thisis unlikely to drive an increase in large-scale violence. Smaller, localized actsof violence committed by domestic extremists, however, cannot be dismissed. TheFBI further assesses that domestic extremist movements pose a medium to lowterrorism threat. Specific political and economic events scheduled in 2012create the potential for greater volatility within domestic extremism thanexisted in the previous year.
In recent months, the FBI has seennumerous examples of domestic terrorism and violence committed by loneoffenders or small cells. For example, this year the FBI proactively dismantledan anarchist extremist cell comprised of five men who planned to blow up abridge in Cleveland, Ohio. Four members of the cell have pleaded guilty, andthe fifth member is going to trial. In November 2011, four members of a militiain Georgia were arrested for planning to acquire silencers and explosives touse against various U.S. government targets in Atlanta, Georgia. To date, twoof the subjects have been sentenced to 60 months incarceration and three yearsof supervised release for conspiracy to possess an unregistered destructivedevice. This summer, we have witnessed multiple high-profile lone-offendershootings. The FBI investigated each of these incidents in partnership withfederal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies as potential acts ofdomestic terrorism. Three of these shootings—at a movie theater in Aurora,Colorado; at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin; and at the Family Research Councilheadquarters in Washington, D.C.—resulted in the combined deaths of 18individuals and the wounding of over 50.
Significant political events andscheduled international and economic meetings combined with ongoing economicconcerns create the potential for greater volatility within domestic extremismin 2012 than existed in the previous year. While all domestic extremistmovements pose a threat, the following potential outcomes are especiallyrelevant in the current environment:
■Election-related events heighten theopportunity for anarchist extremism in 2012.■The 2012 election process mayrevitalize recruitment efforts for the white supremacist extremist movement.■Militia extremists are expected tocontinue targeting law enforcement and government officials in response to anyrecently enacted legislation that is perceived as infringing on theirconstitutional rights.■White-collar crime by those in theextremist “sovereign citizen” anti-government movement who exploit the housingcrisis could continue if the housing sector of the economy remains weak in2012.■Environmental extremists may engage incriminal activity—including the destruction of property—if they perceive thatlegislative efforts to protect and preserve the environment are ineffective orunsuccessful.
Over the next year, domestic extremistsare likely to maintain the intent and capability to pose a persistent threatinvolving smaller-scale bombings, assaults, firearms and explosives violations,arson, white-collar crime, threats, and other violations of federal law. TheFBI 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 threatof domestic terrorism.
In every domestic terrorisminvestigation—and indeed, in every investigation—we in the Bureau strive tobalance the need to keep the American public safe with the need to protectconstitutional rights, including the First Amendment rights to free speech andfreedom of assembly. Intelligence and technology are key tools we use to stayahead of those who would do us harm. Yet, as we evolve and update ourinvestigative techniques and our use of technology to keep pace with today’scomplex threat environment, we must always act within the confines of the ruleof law and the safeguards guaranteed by the Constitution. It is not enough tostop the terrorists; we must always do so while maintaining civil rights andcivil liberties. Following the rule of law and upholding civil rights and civilliberties—these are not our burdens. These are what make all of us safer andstronger. In the end, we in the FBI will be judged not only by our ability tokeep Americans safe from terrorism, by also by whether we safeguard the civilrights and civil liberties for which we are fighting and maintain the trust ofthe American people.
Thank you for the opportunity to addressthe subcommittee on the FBI’s efforts to counter domestic terrorism. I willgladly address any questions you may have.
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