Obama administration National Security Advisor Susan Rice spread a baseless conspiracy theory Saturday, accusing federal agents in Portland of working for a private security firm named “ZTI.”
“We need answers and accountability,” Rice wrote on Twitter in response to a now-deleted post claiming that a federal officer’s shoulder patch bore those three identifying letters.
We need answers and accountability 👇🏽 https://t.co/dJfEWJxEB9
— Susan Rice (@AmbassadorRice) July 24, 2020
A screenshot of the tweet and image in question, captured by The Post Millennial’s Editor-at-Large Andy Ngo, however, shows the officer’s patch actually reads “ZT1,” a unique identifier for the agents to protect their families from extremists who might track them down in retaliation for the agents applying the law.
Ambassador Susan Rice boosted an unfounded conspiracy theory about federal law enforcement in Portland.
The patch says ZT1, not ZTI. ZT1 is a personal identifier to protect agents from extremists who seek to harm their families. #PortlandRiots https://t.co/MF7T1EtB07 pic.twitter.com/RFYAhnQ3Ln
— Andy Ngo 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) July 25, 2020
While the original post has been deleted, Rice’s tweet remains published.
As rioters in Portland continue their 57th straight day of violent assaults on local and federal law enforcement with mortar-style fireworks and lasers that can cause permanent blindness, sister protests have popped up across the country of anarchists rioting in solidarity with Portland.
In the Denver suburb of Aurora, a protest at the town’s municipal center erupted into chaos when protestors set fire to the building and smashed courthouse windows. Some demonstrators tore down the fence to the headquarters of the Aurora Police Department and shot fireworks at officers. Two protestors were reportedly shot by another when a Jeep barreled through the mob, according to local NBC affiliate 9News.
UPDATE: This is now an unlawful assembly.
You need to exit in an orderly manner. A safe route is south on the AMC lawn towards Alameda.
— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) July 26, 2020
Further north in the Colorado town of Eaton, one man attempted to drive his car through a pro-police rally, hitting participants.
My constituents were peacefully voicing their support for police when a SUV drove through the crowd, nearly hitting them.
All Americans should be able to exercise their #1A rights, free of violence.
The person responsible must be brought to justice. https://t.co/RBLSQN2heG
— Rep. Ken Buck (@RepKenBuck) July 25, 2020
Solidarity protests also erupted in Los Angeles, Austin, Denver, and Richmond, where demonstrators blocked traffic and clashed with officers. The worst carnage beyond Portland came in Seattle, where 45 protestors were arrested. Some had lobbed explosives at police, injuring at least 21, according to KIRO 7, a local Washington outlet.
Came home to my apartment complex. The Starbucks underneath has been destroyed, and cops are telling us to stay away in case something explosive is inside. pic.twitter.com/OOJgzUmusk
— Paul Gallant (@GallantSays) July 25, 2020
Despite the mayhem overtaking the nation’s cities in a second wave of civil unrest following the initial George Floyd riots just two months ago, Rice, a top candidate for Joe Biden’s vice president, has not issued a correction, or corroborating evidence.