The Michigan National Guard is coordinating with various police agencies to protect Michigan’s Capitol, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer wouldn’t confirm whether the National Guard plans to be on the premises for potential protests this weekend.
Whitmer hosted her Wednesday, Jan. 13 press conference from the Capitol building in Lansing. A six-foot fence will be installed around the building on Friday.
“The state police have secured the Capitol and I’ve got confidence that we will continue to be able to,” Whitmer said.
The U.S. Capitol was ransacked in Washington D.C. last week and the Michigan Capitol was shut down after a false bomb threat the next morning. The Charlotte man who made the threat has been arrested and charged with making a threat of terrorism and falsely reporting an act of terrorism, both punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
There has been chatter about protests at the Michigan Capitol and other state capitols this weekend leading up to President-Elect Joe Biden’s inauguration Jan. 20.
“As for a specific threat, there is not any to my knowledge,” Whitmer said. “But we can see that the conversation nationally is focused on the 17th.”
Michigan State Police, the Michigan National Guard, the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Lansing Police Department are working together to keep the Capitol and downtown Lansing safe, Whitmer said.
“Beyond that, we do not, as just a general matter, share more intricate details of what those preparations look like,” Whitmer said. “I can just say, we are prepared if something should arise and hopeful that it does not.”
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