12 Guard members removed from Biden inauguration

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

JAMES LAPORTA and MICHAEL BALSAMO

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 or posted extremist views online, according to two U.S. officials. There was no threat to President-elect Joe Biden, they said.

The officials, a senior intelligence official and an Army official briefed on the matter, did not say which fringe group 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.

Their removal from the massive security presence at the nation’s capital comes as the FBI worked to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops headed to the area for Biden’s inauguration Wednesday. U.S. defense officials have been worried about a potential insider attack or other threat from service members following the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6 by Trump supporters that shocked the nation.

Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said in a statement Monday that vetting of National Guard troops continues and that the Pentagon has found no intelligence so far that would indicate an insider threat.



Riot shields are stacked at the ready as National Guard troops reinforce the security zone on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president on Wednesday. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/12-guard-removed-biden-inauguration-860c2c28bb3b45a28625352df50de294

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This is an update to an earlier LBN post. That post only reported 2 members had been removed.

[Kittycow]

1. Thanks for the update!

[Liberty Belle]

2. Every police dept. should do this vetting and weed out racists or traitors.

[cate94]

3. +1

[electric_blue68]

6. +1,000,000

[sakabatou]

9. Agreed

[orleans]

4. they should update their headline (still says 2)

here's a cnn piece
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/19/politics/national-guard-removed-inauguration-duty/index.html

[Cozmo]

5. If these guards have ties to white supremacists or treasonous groups they gotta go

[Blasphemer]

7. This is frightening

Just a couple of months ago, I posted about how much trust I had in the SS to keep Biden and Harris safe. But, now it's clear that every level of government, including those charged with protecting elected officials, is deeply compromised.

[Liberalboy]

8. Eep!

Well that's a bit disturbing

[Paper Roses]

10. I wish the ceremony was being held inside. I am frightened. n/t

[Evolve Dammit]

11. Glad they're being culled out. May they come to regret their racism and/or betrayal of oath. n/t

[Orrex]

12. Such associations should be grounds for dishonorable discharge

"Your punishment for getting all lovey-dovey with Nazis is that you'll have to keep your rank and salary."

[kairos12]

13. Trying to avoid a full Sadat situation.

[ancianita]

14. The thing that bothers me is a report I read that only some were armed by 6 pm tonight.

And no reason has been given.

Doesn't sound like very super special security to me. Just a lot of bodies, 2,750 deployed closest to the ceremony for ushering and guarding.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-capitol-nationalguard/some-national-guard-troops-helping-secure-inauguration-will-be-armed-officials-idUSKBN29I0A3

Okay, this is more detailed. Still, to guard city perimeters with unloaded weapons sounds kind of loosey-goosey.

...building up to a force of 25,000 by Wednesday in what the Guard calls Operation Capital Response.

The security concerns surrounding Wednesday's inauguration have led to the buildup of a Guard force 2.5 times larger than had been expected prior to the riot at the Capitol.

It also means that guardsmen helping with security at the Capitol building area are armed, while other guardsmen assisting in other parts of the city on different missions may have their weapons with them though they are not loaded.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/armed-national-guardsman-duty-dc-vetted-fbi-amid/story?id=75322313

[Lock him up.]

15. I doubt RW terrorists will shoot at unarmed NGs.

They still regard troopers as brave people, IMHO.

[Marcuse]

16. Only 12?

About 22 percent of service members who participated in the survey last fall said they have seen signs of white nationalism or racist ideology within the armed forces.

That’s roughly the same level as results from the 2017 Military Times poll, conducted in the weeks following a clash between white supremacist groups and counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, that sparked a national conversation about right-wing extremists.
Among non-white service members in the poll, incidents of racism and racist ideology increased from 42 percent in 2017 to more than half those surveyed in 2018.

The results from the survey, conducted in September and October, suggest ongoing problems with infiltration of the military by extremist groups, even as military leaders have reminded service members that white nationalist views are opposed to military values.
Respondents said the problematic signs included casual use of racial slurs and anti-Semitic language, display of the Confederate flag despite complaints from other troops, swastikas drawn in bathrooms in combat zones, and tattoos known to be connected with white power propaganda.

I have several colleagues who have said they are ‘alt right,’” wrote one anonymous service member. “They make very clear statements of strong hatred against blacks, Muslims, Hispanics and immigrants in general. They punish others by withholding favorable assignments, actions, etc.
“I had no idea so much hatred was present in our country (and military) before this president was elected; it's horrifying.”

Among all troops who participated in the survey, about 35 percent saw the problem of white nationalism as a significant threat to the country. That’s higher than the total troops who see Syria (24 percent), Afghanistan (13 percent) or immigration issues (23 percent) as a serious national security issue.

Another 37 percent said they see it as little or no danger.

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2019/02/28/white-nationalism-remains-a-problem-for-the-military-poll-shows/

[turbinetree]

17. So will they be court-martialed..........they took an oath..........nothing less........

[Nitram]

18. Very interesting. The FBI, the Armed Services - everybody - needs to her reviewed for

ties with right-wing militia groups or posted extremist views online.