Report: Rehearsal For Biden Inauguration Postponed Amid Security Threats

Members of the National Guard take a rest in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, January 13, 2021, ahead of an expected House vote impeaching US President Donald Trump. - The Democrat-controlled US House... Members of the National Guard take a rest in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, January 13, 2021, ahead of an expected House vote impeaching US President Donald Trump. - The Democrat-controlled US House of Representatives on Wednesday opened debate on a historic second impeachment of President Donald Trump over his supporters' attack of the Capitol that left five dead.Lawmakers in the lower chamber are expected to vote for impeachment around 3:00 pm (2000 GMT) -- marking the formal opening of proceedings against Trump. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

A rehearsal for Joe Biden’s inauguration that was originally scheduled for Sunday has been postponed due to security concerns in the wake of last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Politico reported late Thursday. 

Two people with knowledge of the decision told the publication that the rehearsal is now scheduled to take place a day later, on Monday.

The news comes as security officials work to ensure that the Capitol complex is secure after failures to do so ahead of the Jan. 6 joint congressional session that was met by a violent pro-Trump mob inflamed by President Trump. 

The National Guard is expected to deploy more than 20,000 troops in preparation for the inauguration ceremonies next week and federal authorities distributed a bulletin to law enforcement urging them to be on high alert for potential further violence as President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in.  

A Wednesday statement from the Biden transition team noted that the President-elect had been briefed about the threats from the FBI, the Secret Service and national security officials.

Biden’s team also said earlier this week that it would cancel the incoming president’s Amtrak trip from Wilmington to the nation’s capital due to ongoing security threats that have grown increasingly dire since last week’s Capitol siege.

Per Politico, Biden’s team has also doubled down on transition security issues, bringing on Lisa Monaco, a former Obama administration Homeland Security adviser to serve as a temporary adviser on security around the inauguration.

Biden had nominated Monaco to serve as deputy attorney general, but her preparation related to that nomination has been temporarily halted as she prioritizes security ahead of the inauguration “given the existing threats,” a spokesperson for the Biden transition told Politico. 

Politico reported that Monaco will work directly 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.

 

Notable Replies

  1. I understand the desire for a normal inauguration, but this one wouldn’t be normal anyway because of Covid. Why take chances? Reagan moved indoors in 1984 because of cold weather and this situation is far more serious than a cold snap. All the Constitution requires is recitation of the oath (which Biden, unlike his predecessor, will keep).

  2. Given that judges keep releasing all the people the FBI are currently arresting, it is no wonder the Feds believe they are still a viable threat.

  3. If the city of Palm Beach wins a court case based on the contract, he can just close the club and revert to residence status. He can travel down to the Doral in Miami for soirees; it’s not far away. He doesn’t even have to close the club until the city pushes hard enough, and so far that hasn’t happened. I don’t think they’ve even filed a lawsuit yet.

    Mar a Lago has convenient access to the airport, and it’s already vetted and secured by the Secret Service. The architecture and decor has that tacky Xanadu vibe that probably appeals to him. He can act out the last reel of Citizen Kane there until he’s arrested or dies.

  4. Avatar for joejim joejim says:

    My Uber driver from Iraq laughed and said, “You Americans are so funny. You think a coup is such a big thing.”

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

80 more replies

Participants

Avatar for mattinpa Avatar for radicalcentrist Avatar for bobatkinson Avatar for cervantes Avatar for trnc Avatar for becca656 Avatar for tacoma Avatar for jkrogman Avatar for left_in_washington_state Avatar for fiftygigs Avatar for isepick Avatar for stewiegriffin Avatar for jmacaz Avatar for somethinghappened Avatar for elkal Avatar for v12nna Avatar for alabamaken Avatar for justruss Avatar for zillacop Avatar for occamscoin Avatar for zenicetus Avatar for KalTX Avatar for Ethics_Gradient Avatar for JR_in_Mass

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: