The National Park Service says it’s still deciding whether to allow the public onto the National Mall during President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration amid threats of violence akin to the Capitol siege last week.
The Park Service on Thursday denied a report that a decision already has been made to exclude the public from the vast grassy expanse, where thousands of people traditionally watch the swearing-in.
Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst said, “No final decision has been made regarding closures on the National Mall for the inaugural events,”
Litterst said that “[w]hen a decision is reached, an announcement will be made by the United States Secret Service and/or National Park Service.”
The Secret Service is the lead agency coordinating Biden’s inauguration.
Biden has encouraged supporters to remain home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But there’s concern that supporters of President Trump who stormed the Capitol last week may return to try to impede Biden’s inauguration.
Trump was impeached Wednesday for allegedly
