Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has outlined a list of proposed recommendations aimed at securing the nation’s capital in the wake of Wednesday’s Capitol Hill siege for when President-elect Joe Biden takes the oath of office on Jan. 20.
“I strongly urge the United States Department of Homeland Security to adjust its approach to the Inauguration,” she wrote in a letter addressed to acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf. “The requests outlined here — if issued swiftly and communicated broadly — are essential to demonstrating our collective resolve in ensuring the Constitutional transition of power.”
I strongly urge the United States Department of Homeland Security to adjust its approach to the Inauguration in several specific ways, and have outlined them in the following letter to Acting Secretary Wolf. pic.twitter.com/GaxUWfFbxk
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) January 10, 2021
Bowser explained her decision as a preemptive tactic aimed at counteracting discord similar to the “domestic terrorism” that D.C. suffered last Wednesday.
“I will tell you that, given the events of last week, that this inauguration preparation has to be different than any other inauguration with only 10 days to go,” she said during an interview with Face the Nation. “I’m requesting from the Department of, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, that they take additional steps, including expanding the length of the time that this national special security event is in place [and] that they extend the perimeter of their coverage area for this national security special event, which is the inauguration, to include the Capitol.”
The mayor came under fire for her handling of the Jan. 6 riots. One day prior, Bowser wrote a letter to the Pentagon and the Department of Justice asking the federal government not to deploy resources to combat the rallies that were expected to sweep the nation’s capital.
“The district is not requesting other federal law enforcement personnel and discourages any additional deployments without immediate notification and consultation with the police if such plans are underway,” said the letter.
In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Biden’s transition team already announced pared-down plans for the 59th presidential inauguration in American history. In lieu of the traditional parades and parties, Biden opted to partake in a short walk to the White House and a “Pass in Review” military ceremony to be livestreamed for viewers at home.
