State Dept. condemns arrests, repression in Russia

The Biden Presidential Inaugural Committee began its transformation of the National Mall ahead of Wednesday's ceremony with a special light decoration Monday evening.

Fifty-six pillars of light, representing the 56 U.S. states and territories, illuminate a "Field of Flags" public art display.

The display includes nearly 200,000 U.S. flags meant to represent the Americans who are not able to travel to the inauguration due to COVID-19.

The lights were turned on ahead of the "United We Serve" event being held later Monday evening. The event commemorates Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

The president is unlikely to issue pre-emptive pardons to his children and other close associates, despite weeks of internal battles among White House aides, sources with knowledge of the conversations confirmed to ABC News. The sources went on to say that they do not expect Trump to issue a pardon for himself. The sources noted the conversations have been fluid and the president has been known to change his mind at times.  

Trump has been encouraged by allies to issue pardons to his children and himself over fears of possible criminal investigations, specifically after Trump's call with Georgia state officials regarding the 2020 election results and after Trump and members of his family spoke at a rally held on the National Mall that incited the riot on Capitol Hill.  

The list of pardons the Trump administration is expected to issue in the final hours of Trump's presidency is growing smaller, with sources saying the final list could amount to just over 100.  

-ABC News’ John Santucci and Katherine Faulders

Members of Biden's national and homeland security teams met via video conference with current career and acting agency heads to discuss inaugural security, the Biden team announced in a readout of the call on Monday. 

Led by incoming homeland security adviser Dr. Liz Sherwood-Randall and temporary adviser to the transition on homeland security Lisa Monaco, the group discussed the "current operational posture for the Washington, D.C. region and the nation," though little information was shared about the actual content of the call.

"Career officials from the National Security Council, the Secret Service, the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, the National Counterterrorism Center, the Department of State, the Department of Treasury, the Department of Defense and other agencies briefed participants on the current security situation and the pace of interagency coordination with state, local, and industry partners," the readout said. "Participants affirmed the importance of continued close coordination in the period leading up to and including Inauguration Day." 

Biden's inauguration on Wednesday is expected to be unlike any other, featuring an unprecedented level of security as well as a slew of pandemic precautions. 

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

3:33

Head of DC National Guard discusses inauguration securityMajor General William Walker, the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard, discusses the current threat level in the nation’s capital and how troops are preparing for Wednesday.

ABCNews.com

First lady Melania Trump on Monday afternoon tweeted a nearly seven-minute long farewell video looking back on her time in the White House. 

She said serving as first lady has been "the greatest honor of my life" and reflected on her "Be Best" initiative, work combatting the opioid crisis and more. 

"No words can express the depth of my gratitude for the privilege of having served as your first lady," she said. "To all the people of this country, you will be in my heart forever. Thank you. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America."

Her video comes just under two weeks after Trump supporters violently sieged the Capitol building and just days before Biden's inauguration. 

In her farewell message to Americans, the first lady said, "Be passionate in everything you do. But always remember that violence is never the answer and will never be justified." 

-ABC News' Elizabeth Thomas