Congressional lawmakers have been informed of a plot to surround the Capitol with 4,000 armed pro-Donald Trump extremists.
Rep. Conor Lamb, D-Pa., made the disclosure in a Tuesday interview on CNN’s "New Day." The show posted a video of the interview on its Twitter account. He said the lawmakers were told of the specific threat, as well as others, in a briefing late Monday.
"They were talking about 4,000 armed 'patriots' to surround the Capitol and prevent any Democrat from going in," Lamb said. "They have published rules of engagement, meaning when you shoot and when you don't. So this is an organized group that has a plan.
“They are committed to doing what they're doing because I think in their minds, you know, they are patriots and they're talking about 1776 and so this is now a contest of wills.
"We are not negotiating with or reasoning with these people. They have to be prosecuted. They have to be stopped. And unfortunately, that includes the president, which is why he needs to be impeached and removed from office."
Meanwhile, the FBI has issued a bulletin warning there could be armed protests at capitols in all 50 states in the days leading up to Joe Biden's inauguration.
But the president-elect has said the inauguration will go on as planned.
“I saw him on TV yesterday saying he's not afraid to do this outside," Lamb said. “And I agree with him and I believe him. So if that's what he wants to do, I'll be right there beside him."