U.S. Defense officials told Associated Press reporters on Sunday (January 17th) of concern as Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony, which will take place on Wednesday, approaches, of an attack from within, namely soldiers or personnel in charge of security who would attack the president or guests.
This catastrophic scenario prompted the FBI to tighten control of the approximately 25,000 National Guard soldiers who arrived in the federal capital for the event.
Read also: How Donald Trump watched imperturbably the assault on Capitol Hill
Armed Forces Minister Ryan McCarthy told US agency AP on Sunday that officials were aware of the potential threat.
He says he warned commanders to stay alert for any problems in their ranks as January 20 approaches.
So far, he said, however, he and other leaders said they had seen no evidence of threats, and officials said the check had reported no problems.
"It's an uninterrupted process, we look twice, thrice, every person assigned to this operation,"
McCarthy said in an interview.
He added that members of the National Guard are also receiving training on how to identify potential insider threats.
About 25,000 National Guard members have started flocking to Washington DC from across the country - that's at least two and a half times the number deployed in previous inauguration ceremonies.
They will also be armed.
While the army is accustomed to checking for possible extremist connections among its recruits, this time the control of the FBI is added.
The process of verifying each member of the National Guard would have started a week ago, and should be completed by Wednesday, officials say.
FBI screening involves entering each person's name into federal agency databases and watchlists, to see if any disturbing information comes up.
It could be involvement in a previous investigation or in cases related to terrorism, said David Gomez, former FBI national security supervisor in Seattle.
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Several officials have agreed to discuss the planning of the operation on condition of anonymity.
“The question is, are they all there?
Or do more have to arrive? "
McCarthy said.
"We need to know that because we need to put in place all the necessary mechanisms to scrutinize these men and women if they want to support an operation like the one
on January 6.
Insider threats were a persistent law enforcement priority in the years following the September 11, 2001 attacks. But in most cases, threats came from local individuals radicalized by Al-Qaida, the state. Islamic or similar groups.
In contrast, threats against Joe Biden's nomination have been fueled by supporters of President Donald Trump, far-right activists, white supremacists, and other violent radical groups, such as the Proud Boys, the Oath Keepers. , the Three Percenters, or the QAnon movement.
Many strongly believe in Donald Trump's baseless accusations that the election was stolen from him, a claim that has been refuted by many courts, the Justice Department and Republican officials in key major states.
If there is any indication that any of our soldiers or air pilots are expressing extremist views, their case will either be referred to law enforcement or dealt with immediately through the chain of command.
"
General Daniel R. Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau
The assault on Capitol Hill, home to the US Congress, on January 6, was sparked by the incendiary remarks of the US president, during a demonstration by supporters of Donald Trump that had preceded.
Military personnel from all branches of the military - as well as veterans and police - were present at the rally, McCarthy said, but it is not known at this point how many actively participated in the taking of the building.
So far, only a few serving soldiers and members of the National Guard have been arrested in the assault on the Capitol, which has left five people dead.
General Daniel R. Hokanson, head of the National Guard Bureau, met with the Guard troops upon their arrival in Washington and as they deployed to the city center.
He said he was confident in the process put in place to identify potential insider threats.
"If there is the slightest indication that one of our soldiers or air pilots is expressing extremist opinions, his case will either be referred to the police or immediately dealt with by the chain of command"
, he declared.
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CNN news channel further revealed that the director of the US Secret Service, which provides security for the President of the United States, James Murray, sent a note to his entire agency last week, reminding everyone staff to remain professional and act in a non-partisan manner in the exercise of their functions, during the investiture ceremony on January 20.
“There has been a tremendous amount of hyperviolent rhetoric associated with the presidential transition, especially on social media. As members of the Secret Service, each of us is expected to remain civil and professional at all times, ”
James Murray recalled in the memo, to which CNN had access.
"In carrying out our duties and representing the agency, we must behave in a non-partisan manner."
