Images showing National Guard troops, who were sent to protect Washington, D.C., relegated to rest inside a parking garage sparked outrage.As of early Friday morning, 869 Maryland National Guard members were supporting the inauguration mission in Washington.Sources told 11 News that some of those Marylanders were among Guard members seen Thursday in photos, forced to take their mandated rest break on the floor of the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center parking garage.When asked how Marylanders ended up on the concrete, the D.C. National Guard told 11 News in a statement it wasn t their call: Capitol Police asked the troops to move their rest area. They were temporarily relocated (to the garage because it) has heat and restroom facilities. The incident sparked outrage among members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who checked in Friday morning with troops on the floor of a building in the Capitol complex. Then, Schumer took to the floor of the U.S. Sena
Miscommunication and confusion led to National Guard troops being pushed out of Capitol
A series of miscommunications around an unprecedented security situation left National Guard troops searching for an adequate rest area Thursday night when they were moved from the Capitol into a nearby parking garage.
Guard members ended up having to spend several hours Thursday night resting on the concrete in the parking garage before the mistake was fixed and they were moved back to the Capitol.
The exact chain of events that led to the Guard members moving to the garage is unclear, and by Friday afternoon a series of conflicting explanations and finger pointing only added to the confusion about why the troops were given the impression they were no longer welcome in the Capitol even as their job of protecting it is ongoing.
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WASHINGTON Thousands of National Guardsmen were banished outdoors or to nearby parking garages after two weeks pulling security duty following the riots of Jan 6. “We feel incredibly betrayed” was the common sentiment before they were allowed back into the Capitol Thursday night, Politico reported.
Reports of shabby treatment of National Guard troops at the U.S. Capitol were sparking bipartisan outrage among lawmakers and other officials Thursday with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calling for the return home of his state’s Guard members.
Thousands of National Guard troops from several states had deployed to the U.S. Capitol to protect Wednesday’s inauguration of President Biden against threats of violence following the Jan. 6 riot.
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
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.