Rep. Slotkin’s deep expertise in dealing with extremism and militias is informing her work as Congress looks to curb the threat of domestic terrorism
WASHINGTON, DC –– In her first public hearing as Chair of the House Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) brought her extensive national security background to bear in emphasizing the U.S.'s need to focus its resources on the threat of domestic terrorism.
Slotkin, who served three tours in Iraq as a CIA analyst before serving on the National Security Council under Presidents Bush and Obama, said in her opening statement that "the post 9/11 era of security has come to an end," and that right now, domestic violent extremism poses the greatest threat to the safety of the American public.
The hearing addressed state responses to the growing threat of domestic terrorism and featured testimony from witnesses including Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel; Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford; and John Chisholm, District Attorney for Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.
Watch the full hearing here.
What they're saying:
NPR: With Focus On Domestic Extremists, Lawmakers Aim To Reorient National Security Agenda
- Michigan congresswoman Elissa Slotkin says the end date for America's singular focus on threats from foreign terrorists has come and gone.
- As chair of a House Homeland Security subcommittee, Slotkin says the Capitol attack proves combating domestic violent extremism has to be America's number one national security priority.
- The second-term Democrat is now coordinating with the White House on possible executive orders to address the threat — such as new rules and regulations to make the national terrorist watch list a stronger tool in the fight against homegrown extremists.
- "Unlike a year ago where our committee was really, in many ways, spitting into the wind vis-à-vis the Trump administration, we have an open door from the Biden administration, who has taken this on in a serious way," says Slotkin.
MSNBC: Rep. Slotkin on Morning Joe
NPR Morning Edition: House Panel Will Examine How To Counter Domestic Terrorism Threat
WDIV Detroit: Flashpoint recap: Congresswoman weighs in on rise of domestic extremism
USA Today: 'Tip of the iceberg': Lawmakers mull domestic terrorism legislation after Capitol riot, other violence
- Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., organized the hearing as head of the subcommittee on intelligence and counterterrorism because she is drafting legislation to help the Department of Homeland Security better understand the threats.
- "The single greatest threat to our country right now is domestic terrorism," said Slotkin, a former CIA analyst.
Michigan Live: U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin hopes domestic terror hearings stay focused on facts, not politics
- U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, hopes to keep politics out of discussions about how to deal with the growing threat of domestic terrorism.
- Slotkin, chair of the House Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, will lead a Wednesday hearing focused on how states are responding to homegrown extremism.
- "It was important to me that as we set the tone with the committee that we had our facts straight, that we had our terms and our terminology straight, that we understood what the real threats were and we understood the resources that were available to counter those threats," Slotkin said
WHMI: Slotkin Says Domestic Terror Hearings Will Focus On Facts, Not Politics
- 8th District Democrat Elissa Slotkin will chair her first meeting today of the House Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, focused on how to deal with a growing threat of domestic terrorism.
- In a preview Tuesday with reporters, Slotkin said after classified briefings with intelligence officials, the overwhelming consensus is that the main threat is from white supremacist groups.
- "It's not an opinion. This is our FBI, our Director of Homeland Security, who are saying these things. We will see what happens when the cameras go on tomorrow, but you better believe I'm going to reinforce the factual basis for the conversation. We're not going to go down a cul de sac of discussion on a group that the FBI will tell you they have no open cases against right now."
Detroit Free Press: AG Dana Nessel to Congress: Michigan needs more money to fight domestic terrorism
- Slotkin, leading her first meeting, called the subcommittee together to hear from Nessel and some other top state prosecutors in response to the rise in extremism largely fueled by right-wing and white-supremacist groups and the question of whether federal law needs to be recalibrated to give Justice Department prosecutors more leeway to charge them with crimes.
WDIV Detroit: ‘Labels matter' -- Michigan lawmakers push for stronger federal terrorism laws
- "Extremists will continue to be radicalized and will mobilize around narratives," Slotkin said. "Election fraud, pandemic restrictions, conspiracy theories and the attack response to the 6th."
Original source can be found here.
