25,000 National Guardsmen and numerous other security forces are on the ground in D.C. Wednesday morning ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
The nation’s capital city and Capitol Building are heavily militarized right now with guard on nearly every corner. Metairie Congressman and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise said the increased security has been in place since last week.
“You could see a tremendous military presence, National Guard troops all around the capitol, and clearly there needs to be a heightened alert,” said Scalise.
Pictures have circulated on social media of guard camped out inside of the U.S. Capitol, grabbing rest breaks in crowded halls. 174 Louisiana National Guardsmen are in D.C. to support the security operation.
Those troops have flooded the capitol to protect against suspected threats of violence by the same forces behind the January 6th Capitol Riot. Scalise said there’s no doubt this is a tense moment.
“Tensions are high on both sides. There is a lot of division in our country and our focus needs to be on ratcheting down the pressure and bringing people back together,” said Scalise.
Scalise and other Republicans have called Congressional Democrats support for holding an impeachment trial of President Trump after he leaves office too divisive. Democrats say the President must be held accountable for spurring on the January 6th mob.
Biden and VP-elect Kamala Harris are expected to be sworn in sometime just after 11 AM.
