U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Munger says “lone actors” pose the greatest threat to security during upcoming presidential inauguration events.
He cited two incidents at the Capitol last week in which people used potentially violent tactics to try to “disrupt” legislative proceedings.
According to law enforcement, 250,000 ticketed guests are expected to attend the official inauguration ceremony on January 20th.
An additional 25,000 people are expected to join the crowd, and law enforcement expects them to participate in various demonstrations around the Capitol on Inauguration Day. Officials say the inauguration and its accompanying events are designated as a “national special security event,” the highest federally protected status an event can receive.
“I think the biggest threat to all of us is still being a single actor,” Munger said Monday. “Just last week, while President Carter was lying in state, two lone actors appeared at the Capitol. One attempted to bring in a knife and a machete, and the other, I believe, attempted to disrupt the proceedings. attempted to disrupt “by setting cars on fire in the peace circle area.” ”
“The Capitol Police were able to stop them before they could do any harm. But the threat of this lone actor is enough to keep us on such high alert over the next week. This remains the most important reason to justify this.”
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People take their positions as rehearsals begin on the west front of the Capitol building ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 12, 2025. (AP Photo/John Elswick)
Manager’s remarks came during a news conference Monday with federal and local law enforcement officials, including leaders from the Metropolitan Police Department, Secret Service, FBI and U.S. Capitol Police, to discuss preparations for the inauguration.
David Sandberg, deputy director in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office, said the agency is “currently not pursuing any specific or credible threats to the Inauguration Day or the Capitol.”
Next week’s event will be secured similar to last week’s two high-profile national special security events, the presidential election certification and the funeral of the late President Jimmy Carter, officials indicated. But the inauguration will likely receive additional support from about 4,000 local law enforcement officers who have volunteered their assistance and an estimated 7,800 National Guard troops deployed to the nation’s capital. In total, about 25,000 law enforcement officers will be on duty, said Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Washington field office.
Members of the U.S. Military Joint Honor Guard rehearse in front of the White House on January 12, 2025, ahead of the upcoming presidential inauguration ceremony.
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Additional concrete barriers and more than 30 miles of anti-scaling fencing were installed at the inauguration, more than has been used at past national special security events.
Metropolitan Police Department Commissioner Pamela A. Smith said she expects 12 types of First Amendment demonstrations to take place in the area during the inauguration. Mr Smith said that while the police “guarantee the right to peaceful protest”, “we do not tolerate any violence”.
“As always, I want to reiterate that violence, destruction and lawlessness will not be tolerated,” Smith said Monday. “Criminals will face swift and decisive punishment.”
The Washington Monument and the White House are visible as workers assemble media risers and viewing platforms for the presidential inaugural parade along Pennsylvania Avenue on October 25, 2024.
Asked by a reporter what the biggest difference was between this inauguration and the previous inauguration in 2021, McCool said there was a “slightly more robust security plan.”
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“We learned,” McCool said. “This is the fifth NSSE in the Washington field office this year. We have conducted 83 NSSEs and will review each one and do any areas that need improvement. But all I can say is “We are 100% confident that the plans we have for this inauguration will keep our people and those who protect us safe.”
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