FBI Vetting National Guardsman Ahead Of Presidential Inauguration

The FBI said it will vet all 25,000 guardsmen heading to Washington D.C., ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on January 20. U.S. defense leaders said they are worried about an insider attack or other threats.

Four hundred of those members are from the Oklahoma National Guard, who flew out on Sunday to our nation’s capital, to help law enforcement around the Capitol, the National Mall, and the White House.

This is the 59th Presidential Inauguration the guard has helped out with, but this year is different. Local businesses are boarded up and officials are on high alert.

“This is very special,” said Col. Dan Fowler, the Wind Commander of the 137 Special Operations Wing. “The tag was out here and he greeted everyone before they left and told them, ‘Remember this. This will be very significant. You’ll tell you’re grandchildren about that.’ I said the same thing to my individuals before we set them out the door. Obviously, this is an unprecedented time.”

Right now, it is up in the air when the guardsmen will be back in Oklahoma.

Other guard members are in Oklahoma City and will be helping the Oklahoma Highway Patrol at the state Capitol, just in case any protests spring up and turn violent.