US Capitol on high alert for Biden’s address to Congress

WASHINGTON: President Joe Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday will take place in a US Capitol on high alert, with memories fresh of the deadly Jan.6 atack on the building by supporters of his predecessor, Donald Trump.

The crowd inside the Capitol will be a fraction of the hundreds of members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, top government officials and guests who typically atend, to allow for more social distancing in a COVID-19 pandemic that has killed more than 572,000 Americans.

But security will be higher than usual, even for what is officially designated a “National Special Security Event,” with the Secret Service in charge of security.

The white-domed building is still surrounded by a black steel mesh fence with some 2,250 armed National Guard troops from 18 states plus the District of Columbia on duty in the city, the vestiges of a much larger force put in place ater Trump supporters stormed the building as Congress was voting to certify Biden’s election victory.

Five people including a US Capitol Police officer died from the violence and dozens of police were injured in clashes with rioters.

District of Columbia authorities have asked the Pentagon to authorise the district’s National Guard contingent to help local police handle any anti-biden protests coinciding with Wednesday’s address.

“The DC National Guard is prepared to support DC law enforcement, pending approval” by acting Army Secretary John Whitley, the DC National Guard said in a statement.

It was not immediately known if Whitley would approve the request. The National Guard deployment already has cost more than $520 million, according to the US National Guard Bureau.

Secret Service officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about security preparations.

The howl of leaf blowers mingled with the roar of heavy machinery this week around the fenced-in Capitol as ground staff cleared withered leaves and construction crews worked on renovating a fountain at the foot of the complex.