Security concerns close Kansas offices, curtail Legislature
BY JOHN HANNAJanuary 19, 2021 GMT
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) State office buildings near the Statehouse have been closed to the public and the Legislature has curtailed its meetings due to security concerns ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.
The closures came in response to an FBI warning about the potential for armed protests nationwide following mob violence Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. Supporters of President Donald Trump, encouraged by unfounded allegations of election fraud, stormed the building, interrupting Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory over Trump.
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“We encourage everyone to work remotely as much as possible Tuesday and Wednesday to limit traffic in the statehouse,” House Speaker Ron Ryckman Jr., an Olathe Republican, said in an email to colleagues Monday evening. “We encourage you to have your staff work remotely on Tuesday and Wednesday as well.
Associated Press
photo by: Associated Press
A Capitol Police vehicle with the Kansas Highway Patrol sits parked outside the Kansas Statehouse Thursday afternoon, Jan. 14, 2021, in Topeka, Kan. (Evert Nelson/The Topeka Capital-Journal via AP)
Story updated at 12:47 p.m. Tuesday
TOPEKA (AP) State office buildings near the Statehouse have been closed to the public and the Legislature has curtailed its meetings due to security concerns ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration in Washington, D.C.
The closures came in response to an FBI warning about the potential for armed protests nationwide following mob violence Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol. Supporters of President Donald Trump, encouraged by unfounded allegations of election fraud, stormed the building, interrupting Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory over Trump.
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