NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The Pentagon reaffirmed on Monday its plans to vet the more than 25,000 National Guard troops who are descending upon Washington amid reports of a possible inside security threat, but it cautioned there is "no intelligence" indicating such a threat and that vetting is standard for large events.
"As is normal for military support to large security events, the Department will vet National Guardsmen who are in Washington, D.C.," acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller said in a statement. "While we have no intelligence indicating an insider threat, we are leaving no stone unturned in securing the capital."
Miller explained, "This type of vetting often takes place by law enforcement for significant security events. However, in this case the scope of military participation is unique."
Talk of concerns of an inside threat began after Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told The Associated Press on Sunday that officials were conscious of the potential threat, and that he warned commanders to be on the lookout for any problems within their ranks as the inauguration approaches.
Acting Secretary of Defense Miller also said that the the D.C. National Guard is "providing additional training to service members as they arrive in D.C. that if they see or hear something that is not appropriate, they should report it to their chain of command."
