Durbin Questions Former Biden Administration DHS Witness Who Specialized In Reducing Violent Extremism During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Political Violence

Durbin Questions Former Biden Administration DHS Witness Who Specialized In Reducing Violent Extremism During Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing On Political Violence

Mr. Braniff served as Director of the Center for Prevention Programs under Biden; Trump Admin cut the entire program

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, questioned witnesses during today's Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing that examined political violence. Durbin questioned Mr. William Braniff, who previously served as Director of the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, or CP3, at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The program was created under the Biden Administration to take a comprehensive approach to combatting domestic violent extremism.

"CP3 prioritized public and community health programming to identify people before they commit acts of violence in coordination with federal, state, and local law enforcement. In your experience, how have investments in public health led to identifying at-risk individuals and stopping violent acts before they occur?" Durbin asked.

Mr. Braniff responded, "at CP3, we learned from the violence prevention community-the same people who for 30 [to] 40 years have studied suicide prevention, violence against children prevention, [and] intimate partner violence prevention. We started to apply those methods and that evidence to targeted violence prevention to prevent terrorism, hate crimes, and school shootings."

Mr. Braniff further stated that during his time at CP3, they conducted 1,000 interventions for people who were exhibiting risks of violence. The intervention group was across the ideological spectrum. He noted that some people were "flirting with" white supremacy belief-based violence, some were antigovernment extremists, and some were just violent for no reason.

He stated, "we didn't wait until something terrible happened and then blame the ideology behind it, we actually did a therapeutic intervention-and in 94 percent of those interventions-the individual got help. In 6 percent, they had made a threat to public safety that was imminent, or they crossed a criminal threshold, and they were referred to law enforcement. We supported those individuals, averted 1200 potential acts of violence, and never sacrificed public safety."

"The Trump Administration cut the staff at CP3, which you worked with, which led to your resignation. Is that true?" Durbin asked.

Mr. Braniff responded that the CP3 office is no more-the Trump Administration dismantled it.

"So, the prevention efforts you're describing to us are now no longer funded?" Durbin asked.

Mr. Braniff responded, "that is correct."

"Are you concerned about the potential rise in attacks that we may see without a similar level of inquiries taking place under the [Trump] Administration?" Durbin asked.

Mr. Braniff responded, "I have given my life to protecting the American people. I'm incredibly worried about the rise of targeted violence and terrorism across the ideological spectrum; at the same time, we've dismantled that apparatus that can prevent it." Mr. Braniff noted that the U.S. has seen a 70 percent increase in terrorist incidents from last year to this year.

"I hope we all want to see less violence. This is one agency (CP3) with an agenda directed toward reaching that goal and unfortunately it's virtually been shut down. If we're sincere [about addressing political violence] on a bipartisan basis, let's do something to revive that effort," Durbin concluded.

Video of Durbin's questions in Committee is available here.

Audio of Durbin's questions in Committee is available here.

Footage of Durbin's questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

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