With just one week until the inauguration of President Joe Biden, federal law enforcement agencies are launching a massive security initiative, while supporting more violence after a crowd of Trump supporters besieged the Capitol last week.
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Nevertheless, the inauguration is scheduled to continue with several high-profile security measures, including the enhanced presence of the National Guard and the build-up of law enforcement by government officials and local officials. President Trump also declared a state of emergency in Washington, citing the “state of emergency” of Biden’s inauguration.
Despite heightened concerns about further violence, Biden told reporters he intends to proceed as planned with the event. The theme of the inauguration is ‘America United’.
“I’m not afraid to take the oath outside,” Biden said Monday.
Officials are increasing the number of National Guard members to be deployed in Washington during the presidential inauguration from 15,000 to 20,000 on Wednesday, about three times the number of U.S. troops currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The inauguration comes exactly two weeks after insurgents stormed the Capitol. Five people, including a U.S. police officer in the Capitol who was hit with a flagpole, were killed in the unprecedented attack.
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Public access to the inauguration, which has already been scaled down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, will be further restricted. City officials are erecting a downtown perimeter and placing barriers around the White House, the National Mall and the Capitol. To travel through the perimeter, people must provide proof of essential purpose.
“The FBI has received information about an identified armed group that wanted to travel to Washington, DC on January 16,” reads the memo, a copy of which was obtained by ABC News. “They have warned that if Congress seeks to remove POTUS via the 25th Amendment, a major uprising will take place.”
Members of the U.S. National Guard arrive at the U.S. Capitol on January 12, 2021 in Washington, DC. The Pentagon is deploying as many as 15,000 National Guard troops to protect President Joe Biden’s election on January 20 amid fears of new violence. (Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images)
As COVID-19 cases increase nationwide and the fear for the safety of the event increases, the leaders of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia have issued a joint statement urging Americans to stay away from the inauguration and rather virtually to turn on.
“We will work with our partners in the federal government to ensure the security of the national capital,” they wrote. “Because of the unique circumstances surrounding the 59th presidential inauguration, including last week’s violent uprising, as well as the ongoing and deadly COVID-19 pandemic, we are taking the extraordinary step of encouraging Americans not to come to Washington.”
National Guard members are asleep before the Democrats begin debating on January 13, 2021, one article of accusation against US President Donald Trump at the US Capitol. (Reuters / Joshua Roberts)
There will also be no public access to the Capitol site during the inauguration, Capitol Acting U.S. Police Chief Yogananda Pittman said in a statement Monday. The Capitol police, who have been heavily criticized after being overrun by extremist extremists last week, are working with federal, state and local law enforcement to ensure the inauguration runs smoothly, she said.
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“We have comprehensive, coordinated plans to ensure the safety and security of the congressional community and the upcoming inauguration of the president,” Pittman said.
The Washington Monument was also closed until Jan. 24 due to “credible threats to visitors and park resources” surrounding the inauguration of Biden, the National Park Service said. The threats include possible disruption of the “setting up and execution of inauguration events, which are taking place in several park areas,” the agency said.
Officials are strengthening the city days earlier than planned in anticipation of possible violence Saturday.
Hundreds of National Guard troops hold the Capitol Visitor’s Center to strengthen security at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, January 13, 2021. The House of Representatives is seeking an article accusing President Donald Trump of his role in inciting of an angry crowd. to storm the Capitol last week. (AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite)
The FBI warned in a memorandum on Monday that an armed group had threatened to come to Washington on January 16 and wage a “major uprising” if President Trump was removed from office before January 20. The agency also warned that armed protests were planned at all 50 state capitals and at the U.S. capital on January 20, the day of Biden’s inauguration, regardless of whether the states certified election votes for Biden or Trump.
“There are people who plan to take risks, at least online, and the bottom line is that our authorities need to pay close attention,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters this week.
House Democrats were briefed late Monday on threats for the event, including that thousands of armed pro-Trump supporters plan to surround the Capitol before the inauguration, according to Rep-Conor Lamb, D-Pa.
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“They were talking about 4,000 armed ‘patriots’ to surround the Capitol and prevent any Democrat from entering,” Lamb told CNN on Tuesday.
Rep. Tom Malinowski, DN.J., who participated in the safety briefing for lawmakers, told The Washington Post that if the extended measures planned for the inauguration were to take place on Jan. 6, a fly would not be in the Capitol. ‘
“Last week was a wake-up call,” Malinowski said.