Don't forget that we are being run by a mafia-wannabe, and every "protection" demand is also a threat.

This is the equivalent of "It'd be a shame if something happened to your nice flower shop. But if you do what we say we can protect you." And it also may very well be a signal to the lawbreakers in and out of government to demonstrate that the violence will continue. I don't doubt a Proud Boy could see this as a suggestion to shut a Democrat lawmaker's mouth.