US defense officials say they are concerned about an internal attack or other threat from military personnel involved in the swearing-in of President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday, prompting the FBI to examine all 25,000 national guard troops coming to Washington for the event.
The huge undertaking reflects the extraordinary security concerns that took over Washington after the January 6 deadly uprising on the United States Capitol by rebels urged by Donald Trump. And he highlights the fear that some of the people assigned to protect the city in the coming days may pose a threat to the incoming president and other VIPs.
Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said officers are aware of the potential threat and have warned commanders to watch out for problems in their ranks. So far, however, he and other leaders say they have seen no evidence of any threats, and officials said the investigation did not signal any problems they were aware of.
“We are continually going through the process and taking a second, third look at each of the individuals assigned to this operation,” McCarthy said after he and other military leaders underwent an exhaustive three-hour security exercise. He said members of the guard are also being trained on how to identify potential internal threats.
About 25,000 members of the guard are flowing to Washington from across the country – at least two and a half times the number of previous openings. And while the military routinely reviews service members for extremist connections, FBI screening is added to any previous monitoring.
Several officials said the process began when the first troops began to be dispatched to DC more than a week ago. They said it was scheduled to be completed on Wednesday. Several officers discussed military planning on condition of anonymity.
“The question is, are they all? Are there others? ”Said McCarthy. “We need to be aware of this and put all the mechanisms in place to scrutinize these men and women who would support any operation like this.”
In a situation like this, the FBI check would involve checking people’s names against databases and watch lists, looking for involvement in previous investigations or terrorism-related concerns, said David Gomez, a former FBI supervisor in Seattle.
Internal threats have been a priority for the police since the 9/11 attacks. But in most cases, the threats come from local insurgents radicalized by Al Qaeda, the Islamic State or similar groups.
In contrast, threats against Biden’s tenure have been fueled by Trump supporters, far-right militants, white supremacists and other radical groups. Many believe Trump’s baseless allegations that the election was stolen, a claim refuted by many courts, the justice department and Republican officials in battle states.
The Capitol uprising began after Trump made incendiary comments at a rally. According to McCarthy, service members from all armed forces were at that rally, but it is not clear how many may have participated in the Capitol violation.
Some members of the active duty or the national guard were arrested in connection with the attack on the Capitol, which left five dead, including a policeman and a woman shot when she climbed a window near the town hall.
General Daniel R Hokanson, head of the National Guard Department, has been meeting with guard troops as they arrive and gather in the center.
“If there is any indication that any of our soldiers or airmen are expressing things that are extremist views, it is either handed over to the police authorities or dealt with the chain of command immediately,” he said.
The internal threat, however, was just one of the security concerns voiced by officials on Sunday, when dozens of Washington military, guards, police and officers and commanders underwent a security trial in northern Virginia. The Secret Service is responsible for the security of the event, but there are a wide variety of military and police officers involved, from the Guard and the FBI to the Washington Metropolitan Police, Capitol Police and U.S. Park Police.
Hokanson said he believes his troops have been properly equipped and prepared and are rehearsing to be prepared for any contingency.
The biggest security concern is an attack by armed groups, as well as planted explosives and other devices. McCarthy said intelligence reports suggest that groups are organizing armed demonstrations that will precede Induction Day, and possibly after that.
Most members of the guard will be armed. McCarthy said the units are undergoing repeated exercises to practice when and how to use force and how to work quickly with law enforcement partners. The police would make any arrests.
The main objective, he said, is for America’s transfer of power to take place without incident.
“This is a national priority. We have to be successful as an institution, ”said McCarthy. “We want to send the message to everyone in the United States and the rest of the world that we can do this safely and peacefully.”