WASHINGTON (AP) — Twelve U.S. National Guard members have been removed from securing President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration after vetting by the FBI, including two who posted extremists views about the Wednesday event, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.
There was no specific threat to Biden.
Two U.S. officials told The AP that all 12 were found to have ties with right-wing militia groups or posted extremist views online.
The officials, a senior intelligence official and an Army official briefed on the matter, did not say which fringe groups the Guard members belonged to or what unit they served in.
The officials were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Original Story:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Twelve U.S. Army National Guard members have been removed from the presidential inauguration security mission after they were found to have ties with right-wing militia groups.
That is according to two U.S. officials, who said there was no threat to President-elect Joe Biden.
The officials, a senior U.S. intelligence official and a U.S. Army official briefed on the matter did not say which fringe group the Guard members belonged to or what unit they served in.
A law enforcement official says the removal comes as the FBI has warned law enforcement about the possibility that right-wing fringe groups could pose as members of the National Guard called in to help secure the city after a deadly riot this month at the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters.
