Heinrich Urges FBI To Provide Public Assessment Of QAnon During Senate Intelligence Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON – During a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) urged Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray to provide a public assessment on the threat posed by QAnon, in the United States and abroad.

“The Constitution protects the advocacy of all kinds of beliefs and views – even those that philosophically embrace violent tactics. But the public deserves to know how the government assesses the threat to our country from those who would act violently on such beliefs,” said Heinrich. 

In December 2020, nearly a month before the violent January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, Senator Heinrich led a letter to the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis requesting a written assessment to Congress on the threat posed by QAnon, in the United States and abroad. Today, Director Wray committed to providing a public assessment very shortly. 

Senator Heinrich introduced a resolution in February expressing the Sense of the Senate on the imminent and pervasive threat of domestic terrorism, violent white supremacists, neo-Nazis, anti-government militias, and dangerous, fringe conspiracy theories to the democratic institutions and values of the United States. 

The open hearing today featured testimony from the heads of U.S intelligence agencies on the global security threats currently facing the United States. A video of the full hearing and a list of witnesses is available here.