Minnesota governor to deploy National Guard to protect state capitol ahead of inauguration

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will deploy the state’s National Guard for several days to protect the state capitol before Joe Biden’s inauguration next week.
The Democratic governor spoke about a memo from the FBI on Dec. 29 that warned there were threats for Minnesota and Michigan’s state capitols this upcoming weekend. Walz told reporters he already talked to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) and law enforcement about the threat, The Associated Press reported.
Walz told reporters there will be an announcement on Wednesday with his full plans. States are making preparations after the FBI warned them that there could be armed protests at all state capitols before Biden gets inaugurated.
Law enforcement agents read the AP an internal memo put out on Sunday that said “[a]rmed protests are being planned at all 50 state capitols from 16 January through at least 20 January, and at the U.S. Capitol from 17 January through 20 January.”
During last Wednesday’s violent riot at the U.S. Capitol, there was a “Storm the Capitol” rally outside Minnesota’s state capitol. Speakers talked about “civil war” and garnered applause when talking about “casualties” at the capitol riot.
The rally moved to Walz’s home where state troopers had to get the governor’s son out of their residence. Michigan’s state capitol had a bomb threat early in the morning the day after the capitol riot.
Washington, D.C., and state capitols have been put on high alert for Biden’s inauguration after last week’s deadly riot. There have been dozens of arrests and the FBI is still looking for others who broke into the federal building. A Chicago man was arrested on Tuesday for making threats towards the inauguration.
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