Pentagon authorizes arming of National Guard members supporting Capitol security
- par Thibaud Popelin
- dans Monde
- — Jan 14, 2021
The National Guard is watching the building at all hours after authorities were caught flat-footed by a rally-turned-riot last week.
Gov. Roy Cooper has called up 550 troops from the N.C. National Guard to help with possible protests in Raleigh and the upcoming Inauguration in Washington, D.C.
The Pentagon is mobilizing up to 15,000 National Guard for the January 20 inauguration, as Trump and supporters still refuse to accept Biden's election victory two months ago.
National Guard troops at the Capitol complex in Washington on Wednesday afternoon, January 13, 2021.
"The attack on the Capitol was a violent insurrection that resulted in the spilling of American blood", said US Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat from NY. "And that's why extraordinary security measures have been taken". The attackers wanted to assassinate Nancy Pelosi, hang Mike Pence, and hunt down sitting members of Congress. "That's lawlessness. That's terror", Jeffries said.
The Oklahoma Guardsmen will join National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 43 states to augment the District of Columbia National Guard to assist law enforcement with crowd management; traffic control in and around the Capitol, National Mall and White House; as well as communications, logistical and medical support. It was another sign of the threat law enforcement officials say they've tracking related to next week's inauguration and handover of power to President-elect Joseph R. Biden.
The National Guard's presence at the inauguration is not new.
"I did not know if I was going to make it to the end of that day alive", she said without providing details, citing security concerns.
"Impeaching the president in such a short time frame would be a mistake", said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the chamber's top Republican. "The president bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters".
