Bennett Statement on Incidents That Prohibited Ticketholders From Accessing Designated Areas at Inaugural Ceremony

Statement

Bennett Statement on Incidents That Prohibited Ticketholders From Accessing Designated Areas at Inaugural Ceremony

Senator Bob Bennett (R-Utah), a member of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC), today issued the following statement regarding reports that a large number of ticketholders were unable to be admitted into their designated areas at the 56th Presidential Inaugural Ceremony:

"I have heard from some of my constituents who received inauguration tickets that they were not allowed to use them. They were not admitted into their assigned sections to watch the swearing-in ceremony, allegedly because of security malfunctions blamed on ‘unprecedented crowds.'

As a member of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, I am extremely disappointed and I will be working with law enforcement officials to thoroughly investigate why this happened.

I know many traveled great distances to witness history firsthand and I send my deepest regrets for those affected by this unfortunate circumstance."

Mark Sullivan, Director of the Secret Service, has been asked by JCCIC to convene all law enforcement and other parties involved in the Inauguration planning process to conduct an immediate investigation into two serious incidents that have been reported: the decision to close access to the blue and purple standing areas and an incident involving the 3rd Street tunnel, where thousands of people were stuck for hours and allegedly without law enforcement presence.

If you have any feedback for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, please email feedback@jccic.senate.gov.

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