Feinstein: ‘Significant Problems’ at Inauguration

A report will be compiled on the “significant problems” with the organization and crowd control of President Obama’s inauguration Tuesday, Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) Chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Thursday.

Feinstein has faced mounting calls for an explanation of the lack of crowd control, more efficient security checkpoints, and dissemination of accurate information to inauguration-goers at Tuesday’s festivities, which drew millions of spectators to downtown Washington, D.C.–many of whom were left waiting outside security checkpoints in massive crowds, unable to get to the National Mall despite arriving downtown early in the morning.

“It is clear that there were significant problems with managing crowds, especially in the Third Street Tunnel and the agencies involved are in the process of sorting out exactly what happened. There will be an after-action report compiled, not to cast blame, but to help us understand what mistakes were made so that we can make sure they are not repeated at future Inaugurals,” Feinstein said today in a statement issued by the JCCIC.

Feinstein met today with the heads of the Secret Service and Capitol Police, as well as other law enforcement officials, to discuss Tuesday’s problems.

Lawmakers this week have blasted Feinstein’s committee and other inaugural planners for leaving ticket-holding inauguration-goers (some of whom, no doubt, were constituents) out in the cold, as many ticket holders reported that they could not get through security checkpoints to witness Obama’s swearing in, despite arriving downtown with several hours to spare.

Feinstein also defended the inauguration as a success in that no major arrests or injuries took place in or around the security area: “All law enforcement agencies worked very hard to keep the nation