Slow day at state Capitol

Officials said Wednesday there were no incidents, and as the inauguration was going on, few people outside the

state Capitol building in Hartford.

As President Joe Biden was inaugurated Wednesday, the Connecticut Capitol was largely quiet amid increased security following the breach of the U.S. Capitol earlier this month.

Officials said Wednesday there were no incidents, and as the inauguration was going on, few people outside the state Capitol building, except for a small contingent of law enforcement and National Guard troops and about a dozen opponents of former President Donald Trump.

State officials had drastically beefed up security at the state Capitol last week ahead of a warning of potential armed protests across the country, drawing in scores of state and federal authorities, as well as a contingent of National Guard soldiers.

On Sunday, the day officials expected a protest, few members of the public were on the grounds, so leaders scaled back their show of force as the day wore on.

National Guard members remained stationed outside the Capitol and other government buildings, including the federal courthouse in Hartford and the state Supreme Court building, on Wednesday, but the state police presence was far smaller than what was seen on Sunday.

Officials said Tuesday that they were continuing to monitor intelligence both locally and nationally, but there were no specific, credible threats in Connecticut.

The state Capitol was empty Wednesday as legislative leaders adjusted schedules and chose not to meet on Inauguration Day out of an abundance of caution.

The Capitol has been largely quiet since the coronavirus pandemic reached Connecticut in March with most hearings and meetings held virtually.

A memo from FBI headquarters early last week warned that some were calling on armed protests at the U.S. Capitol and all 50 state capitols ahead of Wednesday’s presidential inauguration.

But as inauguration drew near, leaders in the FBI’s New Haven Field Division issued a statement saying there were no credible threats of armed or violent protests in Connecticut.

Like the state Capitol, the U.S. Capitol was also free of any major disturbances Wednesday as Biden took the oath of office. Gov. Ned Lamont sent 200 Connecticut National Guard members to Washington to help with security at the inauguration.