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A final reason for conhdence is thai ollicials anticipate that ief-wine counerprotesiers from antifa ane Black Lives Matter will mostly stay off the streets That would lesse nthe {ikelthood of confrontations that could escalate into bloodshed and serious disorder, which nught encourage Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act. One flash point Wednesday may be the US. Capitol, where legislators will be meeting to certify the electoral cOHege results, Protesters who pather initially at the Ellipse, near the White House, may then march down Pennsylvarua Avenue, inthe reversal of the usual maugural parade route, and converge on the Capitol. More than 300 Capiiol Police will protect the burlting, but the situation could be inflamed ifpro-Trusmp members of Congress emerge and make inflamynatory speeches. Officials warn that if protesters trv to “stornd” the Capital, as some have pledged, ihey will be arrested. The flash point could come after dark Wednesday, ifsmall bands of Proud Boys and other extremists go icaking for trouble. One scenario weighed by contingency planners is that if 20,000 protesters gather overall, perhaps 1,000 would disperse afier dark m roving bands ofa dozen or so. Even in that siuation, officials expect that the planned force would be adequate. In Trump's effort to retain power, some officials feared he might use a foreign conflict with Iran as an additionai pretext, Bul several officials said Tuesday that Tran doesn’t appear to seek 4 direct confrontation in Trump’s final days: frantan-backed rnsiiuas in lrag could threaten Americans there, but US. forces are weil positioned to protect personnel. The Peniagon’s plan seems to be to wateh carefully, avoid provocation and react to any atiack with a deliberate, calculated response. As the Trump administration nears us end, senior admunsiration officials have a delicate task, vey wart fo seem supportive of Trump’s dream af somehow reversing the election oulcome, But ‘they know thal any open attempt to subvert the transition could be legal — and might subject them to future legal prosecution. In these last tense days, these administration officiais are caught between entertaining frump’s fantasies of retaining power and managing the reality that he lost, Read more from David lenatius’s archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. From:[ be -1 Sent: Tuesday, January 5, 2021 2:39 PM b7c -1 pocosn tina 88) Oeaee@obuueeoJ mee Subject: Re: Road Closuras in Washington, DC near FBI HO Beginning Tuesday, 1/5/2021 through Wednesday, 4/6/2024 This appeared on the Past's website about two hours ago. Uopefutiy these postings reflect nonsensical machismo but it only fakes one armed demonstrator to misinierprel ar everreact, Pro- Trump forums erupt with violent threats ahead of Wednesday’s raliv against the 2020 election Pasters respond to Trump’s prediction of wild" dav with discussion of potential bloodshed and advice on sneaking guns into D.C, Jan. 5 "3024 | at 134 57 p. m. EST FBI(21cv558)-88