Conservative media outlets like Gateway Pundit decried this treatment of soldiers who had reportedly been removed from their original resting area in the Capitol cafeteria and into the nearby parking garage of the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center. These included soldiers from other states like Maryland.
According to reports from The Washington Post, CNN, and Politico, who interviewed numerous soldiers in the Guard, hundreds of them were banished from Capitol premises and resting areas like a cafeteria in a Senate office building and told to go into a parking garage. No reason was given for their banishment. The cafeteria was used as a place for soldiers to rest in between guard shifts, eat meals, or do other work.
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As we reported, people were outraged yesterday after finding out that thousands of members of the National Guard were forced to vacate the Capitol to be packed into a cold garage with one bathroom for their rest breaks while guarding the Capitol.
Many members on both sides of the aisle offered up their offices and demanded that the situation be changed. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) confirmed that the Guard was going to be allowed back into the Capitol. “Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight.”
The Guard was then ordered back to the Capitol Visitors Center.