US Unrest: DC Mayor Calls For ‘Pre-Disaster Statement’ As Inauguration Fears Rise

The Mayor of the District of Columbia, Muriel Bowser, seeks greater security around the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden in the wake of the mob insurrection on Capitol Hill.

“We strongly believe that the 59th presidential inauguration on January 20 will require a very different approach than previous inaugurations, given the chaos, injuries and death experienced on the United States Capitol during the insurrection,” Bowser wrote in a letter to Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of the US Department of Homeland Security.

She requested a “pre-disaster declaration” for the District to allow federal assistance.

Bowser cited “new threats of insurgent acts by national terrorists” and called for the security period around the inauguration to be extended from Monday to January 24 and for the Capitol to be included in the perimeter. Urges that requests for a demonstration be denied during that period.

The letter was dated Saturday and was published on Sunday (Monday NZT).

After hearing President Donald Trump repeat his unsubstantiated claims that the election was stolen, the rioters stormed the Capitol last Thursday as lawmakers voted to certify Biden’s victory. Five died, including a Capitol police officer.

Trump has not been held responsible for his actions and the House is considering a possible impeachment.

The District of Columbia does not have jurisdiction over the Capitol and other federal property within its borders.

In his letter to Wolf, Bowser requested coordination with the departments of Defense and Justice, Congress and the Supreme Court to develop a security plan for all federal properties. “In accordance with established protocols and practices, it is the primary responsibility of the federal government to secure federal property in these situations,” he wrote.

Doing so, he said, will allow the Metropolitan Police Department “to focus on its local mission.”

During Thursday’s riots, insurgents carrying Trump’s bogus election message pushed Capitol police to gain access to the Capitol. Members of Congress have called for an investigation, and the Capitol Police Chief and House and Senate Sergeants at Arms have been removed from office.