FBI vetting Guardsmen in D.C. amid fears of insider attack

[BlueWavePsych]

Source: Politico

U.S. defense officials say they are worried about an insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, prompting the FBI to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops coming into Washington for the event.

The massive undertaking reflects the extraordinary security concerns that have gripped Washington following the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump rioters. And it underscores fears that some of the very people assigned to protect the city over the next several days could present a threat to the incoming president and other VIPs in attendance.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told The Associated Press on Sunday that officials are conscious of the potential threat, and he warned commanders to be on the lookout for any problems within their ranks as the inauguration approaches. So far, however, he and other leaders say they have seen no evidence of any threats, and officials said the vetting hadn't flagged any issues that they were aware of.

”We’re continually going through the process, and taking second, third looks at every one of the individuals assigned to this operation,” McCarthy said in an interview after he and other military leaders went through an exhaustive, three-hour security drill in preparation for Wednesday’s inauguration. He said Guard members are also getting training on how to identify potential insider threats.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/17/inside-attack-defense-guard-vetting-460137

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Better late than never

[doc03]

1. I still say do it inside. Trump has infiltrated every level of the US government I don't

trust any of the law enforcement or even the military now.

[DBoon]

2. This vetting should be part of the hiring process for LEO and military

If you can't trust someone to do their job, you should not hire them.

[BlueWavePsych]

3. +10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

[Yonnie3]

4. How well can they vet over 20,000 in a few days?

I also wonder it the people doing the vetting have been properly vetted.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

7. They don't need to fully vet all 20,000. A cursory check will do.

They should fully vet the few who will be issued live ammunition.

I expect most will be carrying rifles with zero ammo.

[Yonnie3]

11. That is not what is being reported

AP report posted on DU at https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016284345

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

12. Cursory. "running peoples' names through databases and watchlists maintained by the bureau ...

... to see if anything alarming comes up."

A data scan. It's better than nothing, but not in-depth vetting.

It will undoubtedly produce some false positives, matches against databases of guesswork, matching common names, matching names of former members who left groups.

The false positives can ruin careers, hope there are not too many.

[BlueWavePsych]

14. From CNN ...

Pentagon chief says 'no intelligence indicating an insider threat' to inauguration as FBI vets National Guard

Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller said Monday that there is "no intelligence indicating an insider threat" to President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, though National Guard members arriving in Washington are being vetted by law enforcement.

"What happens is they're screened before they leave their state and what it is is a credentialing process so they're screened and they're repeatedly screened until they are actually put on the street," Major General William Walker told ABC's "Good Morning America."

CNN has previously reported that the US Army is working with the Secret Service to determine if there are soldiers who will be part of the National Guard contingent providing security at the inauguration who require additional background screening.

Current Defense Department policy requires all service members be trained annually under a program that requires department personnel to report "any information regarding known or suspected extremist behavior that could be a threat to the department or the United States," the statement said.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/18/politics/fbi-vetting-national-guard/index.html

[Wicked Blue]

5. THANK GODDESS!

Could they also please send Cruz, etc. through metal detectors and pat them down? I don't trust them at all.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Is this article meant to reassure, sow anxiety, or cover their rear?

This is why the whole thing should be indoors, for few attendees.

No one seems to want to state the obvious. We are at war.

[DFW]

8. And well they should

The name Indira Ghandi should ring a bell.

[bonniebgood]

9. 10000000000000000%

[twodogsbarking]

10. This has been a concern of mine

Last edited Mon Jan 18, 2021, 01:46 PM - Edit history (1)

especially after 1/6. My guess is that it has already been done.

[AZ8theist]

13. It just occurred to me after reading your post....

That the shorthand "1/6" may end up being an equivalent to "9/11"....

A depressing thought if ever there is one....