Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said Monday evening that law enforcement needs to take the upcoming right-wing rally in support of jailed January 6 rioters ‘very seriously’ as concerns mount about more potential violence on Capitol Hill.

Under the slogan Justice for J6, organizers aim to support protesters indicted for breaking into the Capitol Hill to prevent Congress from validating Joe Biden´s election victory.

Some 500 people are currently facing legal proceedings in connection with Jan. 6 riots, which, encouraged by Trump´s electoral fraud theories, left five people dead and dozens injured.

The upcoming Sept. 18 event, organized by Matt Braynard, former Trump campaign staff member, raises security concerns, although it’s still unclear how many people are planning to attend.

According to Mr. McCabe, the police have some factors in their favor, such as the fact that they do not have a leader in the White House who incites violence and calls for participating the protest.

The rhetoric is strikingly similar to the organization for the Jan. 6 attack, National Security Intelligence Chief John Cohen reported in August, citing an increased social media posts calling for violent extremist attacks based on conspiracy theories and fake news.

pgh/Pll/oda / avr