PRESIDENT-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration rehearsal has reportedly been postponed amid security fears – after FBI Director Chris Wray warned of “concerning chatter” online.
Biden‘s Sunday run-through has been pushed back to Monday and his scheduled train journey from Wilmington, Delaware, to D.C has been axed over threats of violence, sources told Politico.
President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration rehearsal has been postponedCredit: AFP or licensors
The postponement reported on Thursday night came hours after Wray warned of possible armed violence nationwide around Biden’s inauguration.
“When we talk about potential threats, we have to say about that we are seeing an extensive amount of concerning online chatter about a number of events surrounding the inauguration,” Wray said in his first briefing since the Jan. 6 riot.
Law enforcement officials have locked down the Capitol building and area since President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the building last week to stop Congress from certifying Biden’s win.
More than 20,000 National Guard members are being deployed to the Capitol and thousands of Guardsmen have already been sleeping on the floor of the building.
FBI Director Chris Wray warned of ‘concerning chatter’ online around the inaugurationCredit: Getty Images – Getty
On Wednesday, officials with the FBI, Secret Service and national security teams briefed Biden about the security threats.
“In the week since the attack on Congress by a mob that included domestic terrorists and violent extremists, 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,” Biden’s transition team stated.
“This is a challenge that the President-elect and his team take incredibly seriously.”
Lisa Monaco, an Obama administration Homeland Security adviser, is helping Biden’s transition team with security issues.
Law enforcement officials have been ramping up security measures in Washington, DC, ahead of Inauguration DayCredit: Reuters
Biden nominated Monaco to be deputy attorney general, but she has put her work around that on hold to temporarily advise Biden on security measures.
“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 Biden transition spokesperson told Politico in a statement.
“Given the existing threats, Ms. Monaco’s temporary role will be focused solely on the period leading up to the inauguration.”
Speaking at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters on Thursday, Wray said his agency is “concerned about the potential for violence at multiple protests and rallies.”
Law enforcement officials have upped security around the Capitol, including using anti-climb fencing Credit: Reuters
“Right now we’re tracking calls for potential armed protests and activity leading up to the inauguration,” he said.
Wray added that the FBI has arrested 100 people who participated in the Capitol riot and that agents are “coming to find” 100 more suspects.
“We’re looking at individuals who may have an eye towards repeating that same kind of violence that we saw last week,” the FBI director said.
President-elect Joe Biden’s rehearsal was reportedly rescheduled to MondayCredit: Getty Images – Getty
“My advice to people who might be inclined to follow in the footsteps of those [in last week’s riot] is to stay home.”
Among the MAGA rioters arrested was Peter Stager, who allegedly used an American flag to beat a police officer guarding the Capitol building.
Stager, of Arkansas, is also accused of being part of a mob that reportedly dragged a cop down a flight of stairs.
Stager was captured on video stating that “everyone” inside the Capitol building was a “treasonous traitor.”
Trump on Wednesday condemned the violence at the Capitol and said that “mob violence goes against everything I believe in and everything our movement stands for.”
“No true supporter of mine could ever endorse political violence,” said the president, who previously tweeted he would not attend Biden’s inauguration.
More to follow…
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