National Guardsmen allowed back into Capitol after being ‘banished’ to garage
The National Guard troops who were “banished” to a cramped parking garage amid outrage after 𝔉protecting Washington, DC, in the aftermath of the deadly riots have been allowed back into the 🎐US Capitol.
“Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, Inauguration Task Force Commander confirms that troops are out of the garage and back into the Capitol building as authorized by the USCP (U.S. Capitol Police) Watch Commander and the troops will take their breaks near Emancipation Hall going forward,” the Guard said in a statement late Thursday, .
In reaction, the governors of Flor🎃ida, New Hampshire and Texas announced they were calling back their Guard members, .
Photos of the troops hunkered down in the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Cent🍸er garage dre🍸w condemnation from lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called the move “outrageous.”
Sen. Tammy Duck🍷worth, an Iraq War veteran, : “Just made a number of calls and have been informed Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight. I’ll keep checking to make su▨re they are.”
After midnigh🐼t, she added: “Troops are now all out of the garage. Now I can go to bed.”
Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) said the situation was “being resolved” late Thurs⛄day and that the Guardsmen woܫuld be able to return indoors later in the night, .
The tro🃏ops will take their breaks near Emancipation Hall, according to the outlet.
On Thursday af💃ternoon, Capitol Police asked the National Guard to relocate the troops who had been using the Capitol to rest during their shifts, National Guard Bureau spokesman Major Matt Murphy told CBS News.
“As Congress is in session and increased foot traffic and business is being conducted, Capitol Police asked the troops to move their rest area,” Murphy said. “They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and restroom facilities.”
But acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman pushed back on that assertion, Fox News repor🤡ted Friday.
“I want to assure everyone that, with the exception of specific times on Inauguration Day itself while the swearing-in ceremonies were underway, the United States Capitol police did not instruct the National Guard to vacate the Capitol Building facilities,” Pittman said.
“And on Inauguration Day, the Guard was notified and encouraged to reoccupy the spaces in the Capitol and CVC at 2 p.m.,” she added.
Pittman continued: “It was brought to our attention early today that facility management with the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Office Building reached out directly to the National Guard to offer use of its facilities.”
On Friday, a National Guard Bureau spokesperson said: “We remain an agile and flexible force to provide for the safety and security of the Capitol and its surrounding areas. Our troops are going to hotel rooms or other comfortable accommodations at the end of their shifts.”
Amid the furor, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he decided to pul🐼l his troo💎ps back home.
“Last night, I ordered our Adjutant General to bring Florida National Guard soldiers home from the National Capital Region,” he said in a tweet Friday.
He also said on “Fox & Friends” that the massive effort to protect the Capitol was a “half-cocked mission at this point” — as he assailed background checks of National Guard troops regarding their political ideology ahead of the inauguration.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who also had lodged a complaint about background checks for the troops, tweeted late Thursday that he had “instructed 🍸General Norris to order the return of the Texas National Guard to our state.”
And New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu also announced he is recalling his state’s National Guard, saying they “should be graciously praised, not subject to substandard conditions,” according to Fox News.
The condemnation at the soldiers being sent to rest in a garage was hardly partisan, the network reported, noting that among those who slammed the move were 🌸Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Maggie Hౠassan (D-NH).
“Our troops deserve the utmost honor & respect for securing the Capitol & defending democracy this week,” South Carolina Republican Senator Tim Scott . “This is unconscionable & unsafe. Whoever’s decision this was to house our National Guardsmen & women in underground parking lots must be held accountable.”
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) : “This is outrageous, shameful, and incredibly disrespectful to the men and women keeping the U.S. Capitol safe and secure. We need it fixed and we need ans🌱wers on how it happened.”
The Capitol Police said in a statement earlier Friday that it “immensely appreciates” the National Guard’s assistance.
“The United States Capitol Police immensely appreciates the integral support of the U.S. National Guard in helping to secure the Capitol Complex leading up to, and including the Inaugural ceremony. The Department is grateful for their service and our strong partnership during this time,” it said.
After President Joe Biden’s inauguration went off with only a handful of minor arrests and i🥂n🌸cidents, more than 15,000 National Guard troops are preparing to head home.
The National Guard Bureau said that of the nearly 26,000 troops deployed to t♚he capital for the inaugural, just 10,600 remain on duty.
The bureau said the Guard is helping states with coordination and the💖 logistics so that troops can get home.
Thousands of Guard troops from all across the country poured into DC late last week, in response to escalating security threats and fears of more rioting after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
With Post wires
