Over-emphasizing the threat could have taken the form of five times as many police in riot gear surrounding the Capitol. That would have been fine (hopefully). Or it could have taken the form of police deciding to open fire, which could have killed a large number of people and had enormous and unpredictable political consequences.
Over-emphasize isn't enough. It has to lead to the right actions rather than to damaging ones.
Over-emphasize isn't enough. It has to lead to the right actions rather than to damaging ones.