President-elect Joe Biden is confident his upcoming inauguration ceremony will be safe.
A reporter asked Biden while he was delivering remarks in Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday if he feels safe about his inauguration based on the intelligence he has received.
āYes,ā he replied.
Watch the video below:
While speaking to reporters on Monday, Biden was asked if he was āafraidā of taking the oath of office outside after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol last week, as IJR previously reported.
āNo. No, Iām not. I am not afraid to take the oath outside, and weāve been getting briefed,ā Biden said.
He added, āI think itās critically important that there be a real serious focus on holding those folks, who engaged in sedition and threatened peopleās lives, defaced public property, caused great damage, that they be held accountable. I think thatās a view thatās held by the vast majority of Democrats and Republicans in the Congress.ā
FBI Director Christopher Wray indicated there has been āan extensive amount of concerning online chatterā about threats surrounding the inauguration, as IJR previously reported.
āWeāre concerned about the potential for violence at multiple protests and rallies planned here in D.C., and at state capitol buildings around the country in the days to come that could bring armed individuals within close proximity to government buildings and officials,ā Wray said during a briefing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) headquarters in Washington, D.C..
The National Park Service announced it would be closing down the National Mall, and other U.S. landmarks in Washington up until at least Jan. 21, as IJR previously reported.
President Donald Trump issued a statement on Wednesday calling for peace amid threats of potential future violence.
āIn light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind,ā Trump said.
He continued, āThat is not what I stand for, and it is not what America stands for. I call on ALL Americans to help ease tensions and calm tempers.ā
