Press Secretary: Biden Visiting Waukesha Victims Would 'Take Their Resources'

The town of Waukesha, Wisconsin was rocked by tragedy after a red SUV crashed through parade barriers and hit dancers and performers in the street on Sunday, November 21, 2021.

Five adults were declared dead as of Sunday night; three were members of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies. One adult was an avid volunteer who delighted in passing out candy to children who were also volunteering in the parade. The five adults ranged in age from 52-81.

An 8-year-old boy also passed away on Tuesday after undergoing surgery. Although one child was released from the Children’s Wisconsin Hospital over Thanksgiving weekend, hospital officials have reported that seven children are still hospitalized. Three are in serious condition, three are in fair condition, and one is in good condition.

Although there was talk that President Joe Biden might visit the scene to console the victims and their families, it now does not look likely.

According to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, President Biden does not have any plans to visit Waukesha “at this point in time.”

She continued, “As you saw the president convey last week, our hearts go out to this community, to the people in Waukesha that we've been in touch, obviously, with officials there. We're all watching as people are recovering, and this is such a difficult time of year for this to happen. It's difficult any time.”

She added that “any president going to visit a community requires a lot of assets” including “taking their resources.”

She concluded the matter by saying, “It's not something that I have a trip to preview at this point in time. But we remain in touch with local officials and, certainly, our hearts are with the community as they've gone through such a difficult time.”

Biden celebrated a “Friendsgiving” with U.S. troops in North Carolina before he spent six days in Nantucket to celebrate the holiday with his extended family.

The alleged driver of the red SUV, Darrell Brooks Jr., faces five counts of intentional homicide for the killing of the five adults that were declared dead on Sunday night. More charges are expected to come in the following weeks.

Brooks posted a mere $1,000 dollar bail earlier this month after allegedly punching his girlfriend in the face and running her over with his car at a gas station. Many have criticized the bail as “inappropriately low,” considering that Brooks is a registered sex offender who had a warrant out for his arrest in Nevada.

In 2006, Brooks was convicted of raping and impregnating a 15-year-old girl. He also has a decades-long criminal history that included multiple felony charges, firearm and battery convictions, and drug charges.

A White House official addressed the bail controversy by saying, “Ending cash bail will not automatically put people charged with crimes on the streets. It just means that whether you get bail should be based on the threat you pose, and not how much money you have in your bank account.”

Brooks is currently being held on a $5 million dollar bond.