FOLLOW US

The transition team of President-elect Joe Biden postponed a scheduled inauguration rehearsal on Sunday due to increasing concerns over security threats, according to sources.

A National Guard member on the ground, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the area surrounding the Capitol is quiet at present. Pictures were provided showing the stagnation in duty over the last two days. Barricades, in some directions 6-8 blocks away are detouring traffic away from the area for protection, but concern for improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and bombs are still high, as stated by Superior Officers.

Because of last week's uprising by a small group of extremists, security officials have completely locked down the Capitol complex. The amount of military joining the already present National Guard stationed in the area is continuing to grow.

Authorities warned of possible armed protests nationwide during Biden inauguration

Top lawmakers and officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have raised the alarm regarding potential rising threats around the inauguration. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also warned of potentially armed protests this weekend in all 50 states.

The Biden transition team, the Secret Service, and the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies did not respond to requests for comments.

President-elect Biden also reached out to old friends from the Obama Administration for support and to serve as temporary security advisor until the inauguration. Lisa Monaco, a former Homeland Security advisor, will handle security for the next week, but has also been nominated to serve as deputy attorney general once the new administration takes office.

“Ms. Monaco will assist the President-elect and work with the incoming national security advisor, the incoming homeland security advisor, and current security and law enforcement officials, including with the United States Secret Service on their plans for the inauguration,” a spokesperson for the transition said in a statement. “Given the existing threats, Ms. Monaco’s temporary role will be focused solely on the period leading up to the inauguration.”

During the FBI briefing on Wednesday, in conjunction with the Secret Service and national security officials, more reports of 'domestic terrorists' and extremists not apprehended on Jan. 6, are still of major concern.

“In the week since the attack on Congress by a mob that included domestic terrorists and violent extremists,” the Biden transition team said in a statement, “the nation has continued to learn more about the threat to our democracy and about the potential for additional violence in the coming days, both in the National Capital Region and in cities across the country. This is a challenge that the President-elect and his team take incredibly seriously.”

With the amount of security and measures in place, one would assume that any domestic threats would be internal, rather than ones from outlandish extremists who did not have any issues rioting on camera.

Have a story you want USA Herald to cover? Submit a tip here and if we think it’s newsworthy, we’ll follow up on it.

Want to contribute a story? We also accept article submissions – check out our writer’s guidelines here.