Following last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump extremists, there have been unsubstantiated claims that those who stormed the building were anti-fascist groups.
Montana’s junior U.S. Senator said Tuesday there’s no evidence those groups took part in the mob.
Republican Sen. Steve Daines said in a statement, "The FBI believes antifa was not involved."
Daines called those who attacked the Capitol criminals, but did not label them as supporters of President Donald Trump.
Antifa is a loosely-knit ideology followed by some left-wing activists. The FBI’s Washington Field Office has publicly stated there’s no evidence antifa followers posed as Trump supporters on Jan. 6, and a review of publicly available records by the Associated Press suggests that those who attacked the Capitol were Trump supporters.
Daines called for those who plan to protest leading up to President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20 to be peaceful and "violence will note be tolerated."
The FBI has warned that armed gatherings are planned at the U.S. Capitol and in all 50 states.