Minnesota National Guard Troops Arriving in Washington DC (PHOTOS)
Camp Ripley, MN (KROC-AM News) - Planes carrying members of the Minnesota National Guard members have been flying this weekend to Washington D.C. as part of a massive deployment of troops to the nation's capitol in advance of the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
The Minnesota National Guard is sending over 850 of its members to Washington D.C. for a security mission that is expected to include about 25,000 National Guard soldiers from units throughout the country that's been organized in the aftermath of the rioting and attack on the U.S. Capitol that resulted in five deaths. Prior to the violence, the Minnesota National Guard had been asked to provide 130 soldiers to help secure the inauguration.
In addition to the Washington D.C. Deployment, the Monticello-based 257th Military Police Company was activated by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz late last week and has been helping with security measures at the State Capitol. The heightened security was ordered in response to an FBI alert concerning the potential violence at state capitol complexes throughout the nation, although Minnesota officials have said they do not have any current or credible information about a local threat.
National Guard Deployment to Inauguration