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Has Biden delayed SOTU speech over security threats? Extremists plan to 'blow up' Capitol during address, say cops

US Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman who warned that militia groups were planning to 'kill as many members as possible' when Biden addresses the Congress

As the delay in President Joe Biden's first State of the Union address continues, reports arise of domestic extremist threats targeting the US Capitol during Biden's as-yet-upcoming State of the Union address. The threat was revealed by the acting US Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman who warned that militia groups were planning to "kill as many members as possible" when Biden addresses the Congress.

Pittman's comments came during a heated hearing before a key House panel overseeing funding for the Capitol police as lawmakers questioned Pittman and acting House Sergeant at Arms, Timothy Blodgett, on security failures, intelligence breakdowns, and lapses in communication leading up to and during the failed 'insurrection' attempt at the Capitol on January 6.

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Pittman said, "We know that members of the militia groups that were present on January 6 have stated their desires that they want to blow up the Capitol and kill as many members as possible with a direct nexus to the State of the Union, which we know that date has not been identified."

She added, "We know that the insurrectionists that attacked the Capitol weren't only interested in attacking members of Congress and officers. They wanted to send a symbolic message to the nation as to who is in charge of that legislative process." When pressed by House lawmakers to provide a timeline for removing the razorwire fencing and other enhanced security measures installed in the Capitol, Pittman said, "We have no intention of keeping the National Guard soldiers or that fencing any longer than what is actually needed."

She later added, "The temporary infrastructure is only to address the vulnerabilities after the attack of January 6. Our priority is to make sure that the members of Congress are safe, and that democratic process is protected. Once we have appropriate infrastructure and human assets in place we will lean forward with the removal of the fencing."

While there have been claims that Biden should give a State of the Union address as mandated by the US Constitution, Newsweek reported that no president has given a speech in his first year with the official title "State of the Union" since 1964. Since Ronald Reagan, presidents have delivered an "Address Before a Joint Session of Congress," in the first year of their first team.

However, the delay in Biden's speech has raised concerns about whether the threats may be responsible. One user questioned on Twitter, "Suddenly Repubs are anxious for the SOTU. Suspicious since there was a threat that domestic terrorists wanted to attack the Capitol during the SOTU to kill Biden and members of Congress. I'm more concerned about the constant threats from blood thirsty Repubs. You're sick."

A user wrote, "Trump, others didn’t have a SOTU in year they were elected. it’s not required. Capitol Police in testimony said it wasn’t safe to have one right now. There is a plot to attack the SOTU if Biden has one and also a plot to attack on March 4. But a Biden SOTU would get more viewers." Another tweeted, "Is Joe Biden going to have a SOTU or will he use the meaningless barbed wire fence around the Capitol as an excuse for him declining? Is that why the fence is still up? To protect Congress from a non-existent attack, or to protect Joe Biden from himself?"