For Immediate Release
January 22, 2009

Senator Feinstein Issues Statement
Following Meeting with Inauguration Officials

WASHINGTON, DC ��� U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after meeting with law enforcement officials to discuss the Inauguration Swearing-In Ceremony:

“Today I met with Mark Sullivan, Director of the Secret Service, Philip D. Morse, the Chief of the Capitol Police, and Terrence Gainer, Senate Sergeant at Arms, along with other law enforcement officials to discuss the 56th Presidential Inaugural Swearing-In Ceremony.

An unprecedented number of people, estimated at nearly two million, converged on the National Mall area for this ceremony, and there was not one major arrest or injury at the event, apart from various medical emergencies. All law enforcement agencies worked very hard to keep the nation’s capital safe during this historic event, and they deserve our thanks. But the purpose of the discussion today was to learn more about what led to thousands of people not being able to get into their designated ticketed areas.

It is clear that there were significant problems with managing crowds, especially in the Third Street Tunnel and the agencies involved are in the process of sorting out exactly what happened. There will be an after-action report compiled, not to cast blame, but to help us understand what mistakes were made so that we can make sure they are not repeated at future Inaugurals.”

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