Biden briefed by federal officials on security concerns regarding inauguration

President-elect Joe Biden was briefed by the FBI and Secret Service on Wednesday about potential security threats to his inauguration, his transition team said.

“President-elect Biden received a briefing from senior officials at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and key members of his national security team,” the transition team said in a statement.

“The team is engaging with the current administration to gain as much information as possible on the threat picture, and on the preparations being put in place to deter and defend against violent disruptions or attacks,” the statement continued.

The transition team did not provide specific details about the contents of the briefing. Biden’s team expects to receive daily briefings on security and preparations for the inauguration, which will take place one week from Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol.

Concerns about threats around the inauguration are mounting in the wake of a violent attack by supporters of President Trump on the U.S. Capitol last week.

The Secret Service on Wednesday began instituting special security measures for the inauguration activities and as many as 20,000 National Guard troops are expected to be stationed in Washington, D.C., ahead of the inauguration to help beef up security.

Lawmakers were briefed earlier this week on four armed threats targeting the Capitol, White House and Supreme Court. The FBI has also warned officials across the country of the possibility of armed protests in state capitals in the days leading up to the inauguration.

Biden’s briefing came as the House was moving to impeach Trump a second time on a charge of inciting the violence at the Capitol one week ago. The attack killed five people, including a Capitol police officer. Dozens have been charged thus far and authorities say hundreds could ultimately face criminal charges.

The Biden transition team on Wednesday also emphasized the need for the Senate to swiftly confirm the president-elect’s nominees for top national security positions to ensure a “smooth handoff in power that will ensure continuous command and control across the homeland security and law enforcement components of the U.S. government.”

The transition welcomed the decision by leaders on the Senate Homeland Security Committee to schedule a confirmation hearing for Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden’s nominee to serve as secretary of homeland security, on Jan 19, the day the Senate reconvenes.

Trump, who has remained largely out of sight for the past week, issued a written statement Wednesday discouraging acts of violence amid concerns about the inauguration.

“In light of reports of more demonstrations, I urge that there must be NO violence, NO lawbreaking and NO vandalism of any kind,” Trump said in the brief statement issued by the White House. “That 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. Thank You.”

In remarks to supporters before they stormed the Capitol last week, Trump claimed falsely that he won the election and urged the crowd to head to the Capitol and fight Congress’s certification of the election results.

Trump has expressed no regret for his role in last week’s riots, telling reporters on Tuesday that his remarks to supporters before the violent events were “totally appropriate.”