Violent white supremacists are labeled the 'most persistent and lethal' domestic threat to America in new Homeland Security report
Violent white supremacists pose the 'most persistent and lethal threat' to the United States, the Department of Homeland Security warned in its annual threat assessment.
The report released Tuesday said that since 2018, white supremacists have executed more deadly attacks on US soil than any other domestic extremist movement.
The DHS described 2019 as the deadliest year for incidents of domestic extremism in 25 years - noting that white supremacists were responsible for the vast majority of people killed in those incidents.
'As Secretary, I am concerned about any form of violent extremism,' acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf wrote in the report.
'However, I am particularly concerned about white supremacist violent extremists who have been exceptionally lethal in their abhorrent, targeted attacks in recent years.'
White supremacy was one of a number of threats outlined by the DHS in its 26-page 'Homeland Threat Assessment', which also included warnings about foreign threats to US election security and natural disasters.
Violent white supremacists pose the 'most persistent and lethal threat' to the United States, the Department of Homeland Security warned in its annual threat assessment. The report included the chart above which shows how white supremacist extremists were responsible for the majority of deaths in domestic terrorism incidents in 2018-2019 - trailed by homegrown violent extremists and all other domestic violent extremists
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf wrote in the report: 'As Secretary, I am concerned about any form of violent extremism. However, I am particularly concerned about white supremacist violent extremists who have been exceptionally lethal in their abhorrent, targeted attacks in recent years'
The assessment, released less than a month before the election, was the subject of a recent whistleblower complaint from the former head of the DHS intelligence division, Brian Murphy, who claimed last month that it was being withheld in an effort to bolster President Donald Trump's re-election prospects.
In his complaint, Murphy accused the DHS of delaying the release of the assessment and directing analysts to downplay the threats of white supremacy and Russian election interference to remain in line with Trump.
The final report didn't hold back on those two topics - identifying both as the top threats in their respective categories of violent extremism and foreign influence activity in the US.
White supremacy was thrust to the forefront of last week's first presidential debate when Trump refused to condemn white supremacists - instead telling the far-right Proud Boys to 'stand back and stand by'.
Amid fevered outrage over his comments, the president changed his tune days later, telling Fox News host Sean Hannity: 'I condemn the KKK, I condemn all White supremacists, I condemn the Proud Boys.'
The DHS assessment did not name specific extreme white supremacist groups or highlight specific domestic terror incidents conducted by white supremacists.
It said that white supremacists have demonstrated a 'longstanding intent' to target racial and religious minorities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, politicians and those they believe promote multi-culturalism and globalization.
The DHS also warned that some violent extremists 'have capitalized on increased social and political tensions in 2020, which will drive an elevated threat environment at least through early 2021'.
'Violent extremists will continue to target individuals or institutions that represent symbols of their grievances, as well as grievances based on political affiliation or perceived policy positions,' the report states.
White supremacy was thrust to the forefront of last week's first presidential debate when Trump refused to condemn white supremacists - instead telling the far-right Proud Boys to 'stand back and stand by'
A Proud Boys member flashes a 'white power' sign during an 'End Domestic Terrorism' protest in Portland, Oregon, on August 17
In another section of the report, the DHS stepped up warnings about foreign threats to US election security, affirming other agencies' concerns regarding Russian interference in particular.
'Russia is the likely primary covert influence actor and purveyor of disinformation and misinformation within the Homeland,' the report states.
The DHS said it assessed that 'Moscow's primary objective is to increase its global standing and influence by weakening America - domestically and abroad - through efforts to sow discord, distract, shape public sentiment, and undermine trust in Western democratic institutions and processes'.
The report echoed an August assessment by US counterintelligence chief William Evanina regarding Russia's determination to undermine Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
'Russia uses divisive measures to disrupt the electoral process - including denigrating former Vice President Biden and what it sees as an anti-Russia "establishment" - as part of a broader effort to divide and destabilize America,' officials wrote.
The report also warned of possible US election interference by China and Iran through the countries' apparent efforts to spread misinformation about COVID-19.