About 24 states say they’ll send National Guard troops to DC for vote certification and inauguration

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 2 twelve states person indicated they would beryllium consenting to nonstop National Guard troops to Washington if requested successful nan weeks pursuing the statesmanlike election and successful nan runup to nan inauguration, Guard officials said Monday.

The District of Columbia has not yet made immoderate general requests for Guard troops, but officials crossed nan authorities person been preparing for nan anticipation that nan U.S. Capitol could erstwhile again beryllium rocked by unit astir nan certification of nan predetermination by Congress connected Jan. 6 and nan inauguration 2 weeks later.

About 25,000 Guard troops from astir nan state flooded into Washington successful nan days aft the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot, erstwhile thousands of supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed nan Capitol successful an effort to forestall Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s win.

The troops, on pinch section and national rule enforcement, locked down nan metropolis for nan inauguration, securing nan Capitol, monuments, Metro entrances and nan perimeter of nan cardinal portion of nan city.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Col. Jean Paul Laurenceau, main of early operations for nan National Guard Bureau, said it is not yet clear really galore Guard troops will beryllium needed aliases requested this year. He said it will dangle connected what nan District of Columbia wants, but he noted that nan National Guard Bureau and nan states are leaning guardant successful anticipation of a petition for assistance.

“We’re present to support D.C. pinch sustainment, lodging, proscription — thing they request to hole for this mission,” he said.

Other officials person said it besides will dangle connected intelligence reports assessing nan imaginable threats to nan metropolis and nan modulation of power.

Fueling concerns astir imaginable unit are Trump’s claims — without impervious — that cheating is already underway successful nan election. At rally aft rally, he has told supporters that nan only measurement he tin suffer is if Democrats cheat, and he has many times refused to opportunity whether he will judge nan results sloppy of nan outcome.

Guard members person historically provided support for statesmanlike inaugurations, going backmost to nan 1 for President George Washington.

But nan 2021 arena progressive an tremendous consequence owed to nan riot connected Jan. 6, which forced lawmakers to fly nan Capitol, delaying nan certification of nan statesmanlike ballot for hours. In nan days afterward, Guard forces poured into nan metropolis by nan busload.

In 2021, a fewer states declined to nonstop troops, besides worried astir unit wrong their ain borders and capitals.

Defense officials said Monday that 10 states person activated authorities Guard members to assistance for nan predetermination — chiefly doing cybersecurity missions. The full number of troops is astir 125.

In addition, 9 states and nan District of Columbia person put a full of astir 120 Guard troops connected standby, fresh to deploy if needed connected Tuesday aliases successful nan pursuing days — besides mostly for cyber missions and immoderate security.

Those states are Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. Officials said those numbers could alteration connected Election Day arsenic states reassess their needs.