Photo courtesy of CNN
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have announced the Senior Leadership Team of their Presidential Inaugural Committee in preparation for their swearing-in ceremony on January 20th, reports Politico.
According to the press release, the Biden team has named Delaware State University President Tony Allen to be CEO of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Biden-Harris campaign senior staffers Maju Varghese and Erin Wilson also secured leadership positions along with Nevada State Senator Yvanna Cancela, who was one of Biden’s earliest supporters.
A stage for the event being built on the West Front of the Capitol can accommodate up to 1,600 spectators, and the National Mall is prepared for much more. However, faced with an ongoing pandemic, one can expect smaller crowds and social distancing at the event, writes the New York Times.
“This year’s inauguration will look different amid the pandemic,” said Allen. “But we will honor the American inaugural traditions and engage Americans across the country while keeping everybody healthy and safe.”
Incoming Chief of Staff Ron Klain echoed this sentiment, suggesting that virtual inauguration might be the best practice.
“You know, we ran a very effective and I think engaging Democratic convention this year in August, in a way that was safe for the people to participate and watch it, in a way that communicates with the American people,” Klain said.
The Inaugural Committee has begun accepting donations; up to $500,000 from individuals and up to $1 million from corporations. However, according to CNBC, the committee has banned donations from lobbyists and “fossil fuel companies (i.e., companies whose primary business is the extraction, processing, distribution or sale of oil, gas, or coal), their executives, or from PACs organized by them.”
The ban on donations from fossil fuel companies is a continuation of the Biden-Harris Campaign rules against accepting donations from registered lobbyists, foreign agents, and anything over $200 from fossil fuel company employees.
For more information on President-elect Joe Biden’s swearing-in ceremony, you can go to BidenInaugural.org or follow @BidenInaugural on Twitter.