Unprecedented security: Capitol turns into fortress
The premises of the US Congress are ringed by a security fence, with National Guard personnel keeping close watch
WASHINGTON: Lawmakers walked among armed National Guard patrols in the halls of the US Capitol on Wednesday, as downtown Washington was fenced off and boarded up while Congress went ahead with the historic second impeachment of President Donald Trump.
The city at the heart of American democracy has been a shadow of itself during pandemic shutdowns, but now it is also under heavy guard after Trump supporters’ deadly attack on the Congress building on January 6.
As the focus now shifts to the January 20 swearing-in ceremony of Joe Biden as the new president and the uneasy build-up phase to that day, dozens of National Guard members in body armour and camouflage could be seen camped inside the Capitol.
The building’s grounds are ringed by a security fence erected after the attack, similar to the one put up around the White House months ago when protests erupted nationwide against police killings of AfricanAmericans.
The capital of the US, known for its historical monuments and crowds of tourists, has had a rough ride over the past 12 months. Navigating the once humming downtown on foot, it is difficult to tell which buildings have been shuttered by the pandemic and which simply shut up shop due to the violent protests the city has been seeing.
“This is my first time (in downtown Washington) in a year. There’s usually people walking all over the place. This is very, very quiet. I almost think it’s like a ghost of itself,” said Jaime, a mother from Maryland who did not wish to give her full name.
Hordes of schoolchildren who normally travel from all over the
country to visit museums and see the White House now stay away, as do most foreign tourists. The hectic jostle of politicians, lobbyists and lawyers on the street has also fallen quiet, while the large metro stations that bring workers in from suburbs are quiet and little-used.
The city of more than 700,000 inhabitants is subdued, one week before the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden on the steps of the Capitol.
Biden forgoing Amtrak trip to Washington
President-elect Biden will no longer be taking an Amtrak train to Washington for his inauguration because of security concerns, a person briefed on the decision told AP on Wednesday.
His decision reflects growing worries over potential threats in the Capitol and across the US. The FBI warned over the weekend of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington, DC.
The person briefed on Biden’s decision spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. The news was first reported by CNN.
The move to forgo the 90-minute train ride from his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, to Washington was likely not easy for the president-elect. Biden’s preference for riding the train during his 36-year Senate career was such a central part of his public persona that he rode Amtrak home on his final day as vice-president.