The FBI may add some people tied to the Capitol Hill siege to a no-fly list prior to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.
During a Tuesday news conference, FBI Washington Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Steven D’Antuono said the addition of suspects to a list was not being ruled out.
“As for the no-fly list, we look at all tools and techniques we can possibly use within the FBI, and that’s something that we are actively looking at,” he said.
Both the FBI and the Transportation Security Administration maintain the no-fly list. In a statement, an FBI spokesperson said the bureau “will continue to nominate predicated subjects to the federal terrorism watchlist, as appropriate, in accordance with existing laws and policies.”
“If an individual is deemed to be an immediate threat to other airline passengers or to the aircraft, the agencies and local law enforcement at the airport have jurisdiction to detain or arrest the individual, which would effectively prevent them from flying,” the statement continued.
The TSA issued a statement on Monday noting that the agency “remains on high alert following the events at the U.S. Capitol” and has multiple layers of seen and unseen security for travelers. The TSA added that travelers will see increased law enforcement and canine units at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, all three of which services the Washington area.
The agency went on to note that when travelers reach the security checkpoint after arriving at an airport, TSA agents compare “passenger information to the No Fly and Selectee List components of the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) to identify individuals who are known or suspected terrorists and, when warranted by security considerations, against other watch lists maintained by TSA or other federal agencies.”
There have been security concerns surrounding Biden’s inauguration after the violent incursion occurred at the Capitol building a week ago, resulting in the deaths of several people. D.C. Police acting Chief Robert Contee said Wednesday that up to 20,000 National Guard troops could be in town for the Jan. 20 event.
