State Dept. condemns arrests, repression in Russia

Guests at Wednesday's inauguration are all wearing masks, a sign of the COVID-19 pandemic which has officially killed more than 400,000 Americans. 

And following the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, several members of Congress are wearing body armor, ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Mary Bruce reported. 

ABC reporter Benjamin Siegel saw some Democrats greeting each other by tapping each other on the chest, a “sort of a subtle acknowledgement that they are prepared,” Bruce said.

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle, Benjamin Siegel and Mary Bruce

Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sonia Sotomayor are administering the oaths of office at the presidential inaugural ceremonies on Capitol Hill.

The vice president-elect -- making history as the first woman, first Black woman and first South Asian American vice president -- will be sworn in by Sotomayor, the first Latina Supreme Court Justice.

All three Trump appointees to the high court -- Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett are also in attendance with Barrett appearing in public in her black judicial robe for the first time.

The court says Stephen Breyer, Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas opted not to attend because of public health risks from the coronavirus pandemic. 

It's the first time since 2001 that the entire court is not in attendance at an inauguration.

-ABC News' Devin Dwyer

Vice President Mike Pence has left a handwritten note for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, an aide to Pence confirmed, meaning both Trump and Pence left behind notes for their successors.

Trump did not make direct contact with Biden beyond the note left in the Oval Office earlier Wednesday morning.

Pence spoke with Harris on a call last Thursday, sources familiar with the call told ABC News, 68 days after Biden and Harris were projected the winners.

The outgoing vice president is on Capitol Hill for the inaugural ceremonies and did not attend Trump's earlier sendoffs at the White House or Joint Base Andrews.

-ABC News Katherine Faulders and Jordyn Phelps

Eugene Goodman, the Capitol Police officer who led rioters away from the Senate chamber during the Capitol assault two weeks ago, is escorting Kamala Harris at the inaugural ceremonies.

Goodman has been named an honorary deputy House Sergeant at Arms for the day, ABC News has learned.

Three members of Congress introduced a bill last week to honor Goodman with the Congressional Gold Medal "for his bravery and quick thinking."