today:
178
yesterday:
444
Total:
1,022,472

National Guard troops who were “banished” to a parking garage after being asked to leave parts of the U.S. Capitol, have since been allowed back in, officials said.

“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 Watch Commander and the troops will take their breaks near Emancipation Hall going forward,” according to a statement to Military Times by Air Force Maj. Matthew Murphy, a National Guard Bureau spokesman. “Our troops are going to hotel rooms or other comfortable accommodations at the end of their shifts.”

After being deployed to reinforce security efforts in the capital ahead of President Joe Biden’s inauguration, thousands of National Guard members were told they could no longer access parts of the U.S. Capitol Complex, including a Senate office cafeteria used as a rest area, a move first reported by Politico.

Murphy told CBS News that, at around 3 p.m. on Thursday, U.S. Capitol Police asked that soldiers using Capitol hallways and open spaces to rest during their shifts be relocated.

“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 told the outlet. “They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center garage with heat and restroom facilities,” Murphy added.

While the garage was heated, there were limited facilities, including no internet reception, a single electrical outlet, and one bathroom with two stalls for 5,000 troops, one of the National Guard members told Politico.

“We honestly just feel betrayed,” the Guardsman told the outlet. “After everything went seamlessly, we were deemed useless and banished to a corner of a parking garage.”

Epoch Times Photo
National Guardsmen in a garage on Capitol Hill. (Courtesy Kevin McCarthy)

One National Guard soldier told Military Times that, “we were in the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center parking garage and they kicked us out of that parking garage to make us walk half a mile away to the Hart Senate Office Building parking garage where we can’t be seen.”

Lawmakers from both parties condemned relegating the Guardsmen to parking facilities.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) denounced the move as “outrageous.”

Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) wrote in a tweet that, “it is completely unacceptable that our brave National Guard troops be treated this way. This must be fixed immediately.”

“Our troops deserve the utmost honor & respect for securing the Capitol & defending democracy this week,” Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) wrote in a tweet. “This is unconscionable & unsafe.”

 

 

 

One of the lawmakers who had expressed outrage and said National Guard members could use her office, Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D – Ill.), wrote in a tweet that she had been informed that “Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight.”

“Update: Troops are now all out of the garage. Now I can go to bed,” she wrote in a follow-up tweet.

U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement issued to ABC on Thursday that the department “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.”

A request for comment sent to the U.S. Capitol Police by The Epoch Times remained unanswered by publication.

No. Subject Date Views
Notice Jon Voight: Pray Donald Trump makes a ‘comeback stronger than ever’ 2022.08.12 599
Notice America's Anthem 2020.12.27 672
666 Trump Responds to Twitter’s Permanent Account Suspension 2021.01.09 76
665 Outrage over Twitter's Trump Ban Grows: Pompeo, Rubio, Ted Cruz, Navalny, James Woods 2021.01.10 76
664 Despite their high-tech tools, the authorities are mainly relying on a flood of workers 2020.02.15 76
663 Lawsuit against China file 2020.04.11 76
662 San Diego Parents Sue School District Second Time Over School Vaccine Mandate 2022.05.01 77
661 Philadelphia DA threatens Trump over president's call for poll watchers: 'I've got something for you' 2020.10.28 77
660 Christopher C. Miller 2020.11.09 77
659 Exclusive: Over 432,000 Votes Removed From Trump in Pennsylvania, Data Scientists Say 2021.01.04 77
658 Hertz placed an order for 100,000 Tesla EV cars 2021.10.25 77
657 Thanksgiving Holiday Travel Tips - John Wayne Airport, Orange County 2021.11.20 77
656 Giuliani at Pennsylvania election hearing 2020.11.25 78
655 Ruddy: Trump's Next Big Move 2020.12.20 78
654 A brave voice in China cries out about the regime’s mishandling of the coronavirus. 2020.02.15 78
653 Foods Exported From China You Should Never Eat - Baby Formula 2020.05.18 78
652 In California, Trump is starting to lead in approval ratings. 2020.10.26 78
651 Trump Campaign Files Amended Complaint in Pennsylvania Lawsuit file 2020.11.15 78
» National Guard Troops Return to Capitol After Being ‘Banished’ to Parking Garage 2021.01.22 78
649 Virginia Governor GLENN YOUNGKIN 2021 file 2021.11.03 78
648 Foods Exported From China You Should Never Eat - Wine 2020.05.18 79
647 IRVINEJOURNAL wants to buy CNN 2020.11.15 79
646 All Californians, Nearly 40 Million People, Have Been Ordered To Stay Home To Stop The Spread Of The Coronavirus file 2020.03.19 79
645 Dominion Designed to ‘Rig Elections’ 2020.11.18 79
644 LIVE: Michigan Senate Hearing on Vote Counting Issues 2020.12.01 79
643 2020 Election Investigation: Who Is Stealing America? 2020.12.14 79
642 A brave voice in China cries out about the regime’s mishandling of the coronavirus. 2020.02.15 80
641 Lawsuit against China file 2020.04.11 80
640 If Biden wins... 2020.10.31 80
639 What is Dominion Voting Systems? file 2020.11.16 80
638 Appeals Court Grants Expedited Review of Trump Campaign’s Pennsylvania Lawsuit 2020.11.23 80
637 Newly Elected GOP Reps Urge Pelosi to Investigate Voting Irregularities file 2020.12.16 80