NEWS'I'm Not Afraid': Joe Biden Says Inauguration Day Will Be Business As Usual, Despite D.C. Security Concerns
In spite of last week's unprecedented incident, in which rioters managed to breach security and enter the U.S. Capitol building, President-elect Joe Biden says he isn't worried about Inauguration Day, set to take place on January 20.
Biden stated that he's planning on business as usual when he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris take their oaths on the west front of the Capitol building next Wednesday, "I'm not afraid of taking the oath outside," he told reporters.
He also had a few words for those who engaged in the riots, which were in support of sitting President Donald Trump, who has made it clear he thought the 2020 election, which ultimately declared Biden the next president, to be fraudulent.
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"I think it's critically important that there be a real serious focus on holding those folks who engaged in sedition and threatened people's lives, defaced public property, caused great damage, that they be held accountable," Biden said.
The riot last week left five people dead, including one Capitol police officer, and has many concerned that Biden's inauguration is a target for further rebellion.
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Trump, who has recently been banned from Twitter and other social media platforms, has announced he will not be attending the inauguration, sparking discussion of whether his absence will signal a go-ahead for his followers to incite further violence that day. His refusal to be present that day is historically highly unusual; he will be the first U.S. president in more than 150 years to skip out on his successor's inaugural ceremonies.
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Regardless, the Pentagon is well prepared for the event, having authorized up to 15,000 National Guard troops for the inauguration, according to the chief of the National Guard Bureau.
Sitting Vice President Mike Pence is reportedly planning to attend the inauguration.
In the meantime, House Democrats are prepping to vote this week to impeach Trump specifically for his role in last week's riots. They brought out their impeachment resolution Monday, charging Trump with "incitement of insurrection."
