Texas DPS makes arrest after warning state legislators of ‘credible threats’ linked to Capitol protest

The Texas Department of Public Safety says that it has arrested one person in connection with the “credible threats” made for the state laws who intend to attend an anti-Trump rally in the Capitol in Austin, after two Democratic Minnesota laws and their spouses were shown early on Saturday morning.

“A trooper at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in custody in connection with the threats against the state legislators planned to attend today’s protest in the Capitol complex of Texas,” said DPS spokesperson Ericka Miller said in a statement.

DPS says there is no extra active threat.

The person was arrested after a traffic stop in La Grange. DPS confirmed a report from the Texaan That the arrested man had extreme-left political views and was on his way to the Capitol with the intention of harming individuals with opposing beliefs.

Earlier on Saturday, DPS state laws and legislative staff warned “credible threats” for legislators who are planning to attend the Austin “no Kings” protecting.

That DPS warning was broadcast just before 1 p.m., according to screenshots of e -mails obtained by the Texas grandstand, and a DPS spokesperson told The Tribune that the Capitol was evacuated shortly thereafter. The warning came hours before various federal, state and officials chosen in the city spoke against a protest against President Donald Trump in the center of Austin.

In a letter to GOV. Greg Abbott and DPS director Freeman Martin around the start of the protest, Texas House Democratic Leader Genes wu and 43 other members of the Democratic Caucus have asked for updates to take what steps DPS is taking to protect legislators and other elected officials. The caucus also said that the shooting against the Minnesota laws “” was the direct result of years of inflammatory rhetoric, threats and dehumanization that political disagreements have changed in rebellious violence. “

“The rhetoric that has poisoned our national political discourse – political opponents called ‘enemies of people’, ‘who describes immigrants as’ invaders’ and encourages followers to’ fight, fight, fight ‘now also the lives of dedicated officials,” they went further. “For years, and just like the shooting in El Paso, violent rhetoric has fired the flames of the division and resulted in tragedy.”

Before DPS confirmed the arrest, Jeffrey Clemmons, communication director for State Sen. Sarah EckhardtThe grandstand told that DPS arrested someone “who was going to act the protest.”

Eckhardt was one of the officials planned to speak during the Capitol protest. Other chosen officials who spoke during the event are democratic American representative. Lloyd Doggett and Democratic State Rep. John Bucy III III III.

Member of the Austin city council, Zo Qadri, who was also on the Capitol protest, gratefully expressed for law enforcement during the arrest.

“Everyone – both legislators and those present – deserve to collect and protest without fear,” Qadri said in a written statement to the stands. “It is important to condemn the winds of hatred that give rise to political violence threatened in Austin today and this morning was a tragic witness in Minnesota.”

In one Social Media Post Before the arrest was announced, Republican Lt. Gov. And Patrickwho leads the Senate of Texas, the Minnesota attacks convicted and encouraged people to take appropriate precautions. Tilling threats are part of today’s public life, he continued.

“There is a difference between complaints of free speech, which we welcome, and making death threats. The latter can be a crime,” wrote Patrick. “What happened today in Minnesota was an absolute criminal act and a tragic loss of life.”

Protests, marches and rallies that afford the Trump government will take place on Saturday in Texas and the country. The events are a response to a series of his policy, including his Immigration -Enforcement tactics And what many critics consider authoritarian actions. The demonstrations coincide with the Trump’s planned military parade In Washington, DC, who falls on the president’s birthday and the 250 -year anniversary of the US Army.

Texas organizers of some of the “no kings” and “kick the clowns” demonstrations emphasized that the protests would be non -violent. That rhetoric continued with the protest, in which Doggett claimed during his speech that everyone who committed vandalism or violence would help Trump.

“Whatever their motivations are, they are the ones that Trump charges. They are the best allies he has,” said Doggett during his speech at the Capitol steps on Friday.

After the planned protest of “No Kings” ended at 8 p.m., collectors from the Capitol site and the streets of the center of Austin flocked, often diverted by police blockades. While a few strange demonstrators were the building signs, the protest largely ended without incidents.

Earlier Saturday morning a man dressed as a police officer in Minnesota two state laws and their respective spouses in their houses, according to the Associated Press. Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were killed in one of the shootings, according to Governor Tim Walz’s office. Senator of the state of Minnesota, John Hoffman and his wife, were also shot in their house several times.

In a separate e -mail also sent to state laws and Capitol staff, Texas House Administration Chair Charlie GerenR-Fort Worth, said that civil servants take ‘all necessary precautions’.

“I am in communication with our federal partners and at the moment it seems to be an isolated incident,” Geren said in the statement. “However, we are always worried about copycats and those who can inspire this attack.”

Even with the threats, the protest in Austin was largely jovial. Ice carts and trucks stood along the edges of Capitol Grounds while families put towels on the grass or were hudded at the Capitol steps around speakers. But due to a deaf release, coordinated dances and organizers decorated in clown costumes, the reports from the speakers were still strict and focused on Trump.

“We do not collect day under the sun, under no crown, for no throne, because this is a republic, not a kingdom,” Bucy said to demonstrators during his speech. “We are here today because that idea is besieged because a man, one shame, deposited twice, has folded his way back to power.”

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