12 National Guard Members Removed From Inauguration Duty As Security Concerns Grow
JANUARY 19: National Guard soldiers patrol the grounds of the Lincoln Memorial ahead of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris attending a national memorial for victims of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the eve of the presidential inauguration on January 19, 2021 in Washington, DC. The United States has now surpassed 400,000 COVID-19 deaths, since the first confirmed case of the virus in Seattle on January 2020. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Twelve National Guardsmen were removed from inauguration duties and sent home after security screenings to ensure that none of the troops were involved in extremist activity, according to the Department of Defense officials.

Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in a phone briefing that two were removed for inappropriate comments or texts, according to an NBC News report.

Hoffman added that they have two individuals that were identified as making inappropriate comments or texts.

Meanwhile, one was removed after fellow troops brought the member's comments to the attention of guard officers.

Hoffman said that the other pulled after an anonymous tip that they received.

The Pentagon spokesman refused to say what was the nature of the comments or if the comments or messages were related to far-right or similar extremist groups.

Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said that extremist is not tolerated in any branch of the U.S. military.

The other National Guard members that were pulled out from the duty were removed due to domestic abuse, criminal investigations, and outstanding complaints, according to The Week report.

Hoffman added that U.S. law enforcement authorities were looking back at anything that could possibly flag in a criminal history check and anything that could come up in a database that is being scrubbed by their partners.

Hoffman noted that it is too early if the 12 members would be subjected to disciplinary action or if further probing should be done.

"Any reason that somebody's name is brought to the chain of command, they're being removed from the line," Hoffman was quoted.

Hokanson and other officials noted that most of the National Guard members are dedicated to protecting the United States.

Security Concerns

The U.S. Secret Service is the lead agency managing the security inauguration plans. On Friday, the Defense Department deployed up to 25,000 National Guard members in Washington.

Lamont Ruffin, the chief deputy U.S. marshal for the District of Columbia, said his office is planning to use between 3,000 and 4,000 local law enforcement officers across the country, according to an NPR report.

Washington D.C. has also imposed a strict travel restriction across the city in preparation for the inauguration.

Metro is closing 13 rail station inside the security perimeter for the inauguration.

Statehouses across the country also intend to prepare for the increased threats of violent attacks to local government as well.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation field offices in Portland, Oregon; Louisiana; and Phoenix announced that agents are working with local law enforcement to monitor threats in the area.

Democrat Rep. Steve Cohen earlier said that white male service members of the National Guard could be a threat, according to a Breitbart News report.

Cohen cited former India Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was assassinated by her won bodyguards. Cohen further suggested that any Trump supporters within the National Guard units would come under suspicion.

Cohen did not provide any supporting evidence for his allegations but explained how he would look for those who might be a potential threat, according to a Daily Mail report.