The head of the National Guard Cabinet announced on Tuesday that 12 guards had been removed from the U.S. capital before the presidential inauguration, in part because of suspicions of far-right ties.
General Daniel Hokanson told reporters that at least two of the security officials assigned to protect the presidential tenure were removed from service because of “inappropriate comments or texts”.
One of the guards was reportedly signaled by the chain of command, while another individual was identified through an anonymous report in a police report.
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Hokanson did not explain what constitutes “inappropriate” language, but said the removal of 12 guards was “out of caution.”
“We have identified 12 and some of them, they are just investigating,” said Hokanson on Tuesday, adding that his questionable behavior may not be completely related to extremist connections. “But we want to make sure, by being very careful … to do the right thing,” he added.
The Department of Defense sent 25,000 National Guard soldiers to Washington, DC to help protect the capital during the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, following attacks earlier this month by pro-Trump supporters in the US Capitol building, which he left five dead.
While 21,500 National Guard members were stationed across the U.S. capital as of Monday, Fox News has confirmed that 2,750 additional active duty soldiers will support the security of the event.
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Although the presence of more than 20,000 National Guardsmen in DC for Inauguration Day is unusual, about 750 of the active duty troops will serve in traditional asset support functions, capable of extracting chemical, biological and explosive devices in an emergency.
There will also be trauma support staff and medical personnel – all standard precautions for an event of this magnitude, officials told Fox News.
“As is normal for military support for major security events, the Department will examine the National Guards who are in Washington, DC,” said Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller on Monday before announcing that the FBI would examine all security personnel in the US capital. “Although we have no information to indicate an internal threat, we are not leaving any stone unturned to protect the capital.”
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Miller said that law enforcement verification of security officers was also not an atypical procedure for “significant security events”, but noted that the task’s unique scope in the number of National Guards convened for Wednesday’s event.
Jennifer Griffin and Lucas Tomlinson contributed to this report.