Hundreds of National Guard members forced from the U.S. Capitol in Washington and into a parking garage Thursday night were allowed to return indoors to rest, defense officials said Friday, after photos of soldiers laying on concrete prompted outrage from lawmakers.
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Ron DeSantis slammed Nancy Pelosi (Getty Images)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered more than 600 Florida National Guard soldiers to return home from Washington DC, following reports that troops were being forced out of the Capitol and into parking garages.
On Thursday, January 21, hundreds of National Guard members were forced from the U.S. Capitol and into a parking garage. The abrupt transfer came with no explanation as per two soldiers who spoke to The Washington Post. As per the report, the Capitol Police moved the Guard members off the grounds. However, acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman, said in a statement on Friday, January 22 that âpolice did not instruct the National Guard to vacate the Capitol Building facilities.â
4 Governors Order National Guard Troops Out of DC
Four governors have ordered their local National Guard troops to return to their respective states following accounts of thousands of them saying they had been “banished” to the parking garage of the U.S. Capitol.
Republican Govs. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, Ron DeSantis of Florida, Greg Abbott of Texas, and Greg Gianforte of Montana have said they’re calling their Guard members home. More than 20,000 Guard troops were sent to Washington following the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and ahead of President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
Abbott wrote on Jan. 22 on Twitter that he had “instructed General Norris to order the return of the Texas National Guard to our state.”