National Guard troops were forced to evacuate the Capitol building grounds on Thursday and hang out in parking garages, allegedly after a Democrat congressman complained about one National Guard member not wearing a mask at a cafe in the building.
According to a source, Rep. Will Keating (D-MA) reported to the Capitol building authorities earlier in the day that a National Guardsman was seen in a Dunkin Donuts without a mask on.
National Guard troops were forced to evacuate the Capitol building grounds on Thursday and hang out in parking garages, allegedly after a Democrat congressman complained about one National Guard member not wearing a mask at a cafe in the building.
According to a source, Rep. Will Keating (D-MA) reported to the Capitol building authorities earlier in the day that a National Guardsman was seen in a Dunkin Donuts without a mask on.
Grateful for the opportunity today to thank some of the members of @TheNationsFirst deployed to DC from MA. Thank you to all the guardsmen and guardswomen (from all 54 guards) who have stepped away from family and work to protect the seat of our democracy. A job well done! pic.twitter.com/jEpd8SJ6NT
— Congressman Bill Keating (@USRepKeating) January 20, 2021
Breitbart News reached out to Keating’s press secretary but did not hear back immediately.
Another source told Breitbart News that the situation is “being worked to fix it.”
Pictures of the conditions National Guardsmen were subjected to emerged on social media earlier on Thursday:
Hundreds of Guard soldiers relegated to the Senate garage, breathing in exhaust fumes and covid. Story coming in a bit pic.twitter.com/8OW4frePOh
— Alex Horton (@AlexHortonTX) January 22, 2021
Other members of Congress — Republicans and Democrats alike — have expressed outrage about the treatment of the National Guard and are demanding answers on what happened.
Rep. Madison Cawthorne (R-NC) tweeted that he brought pizza to the abandoned National Guard members and offered his office for them to sleep in. The tweet also included a video.
I just visited the solders who have been abandoned & insulted by our leaders. I brought them pizza and told them that they can sleep in my office.
No soldier will ever, ever sleep on a garage floor in the US Capitol while I work in Congress
Our Troops deserve better. pic.twitter.com/4attFqhRRJ
— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) January 22, 2021
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) tweeted late Thursday night that he has ordered the return of the Texas National Guard to the state.
I have instructed General Norris to order the return of the Texas National Guard to our state. @TexasGuard
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 22, 2021
Approximately 25,000 National Guard forces were deployed to Washington, DC, to assist federal law enforcement authorities protect the inauguration of Joe Biden as president.
In advance of the inauguration, thousands of forces were seen resting inside the Capitol.
Some members of Congress, including Rep. Michael Waltz (R-FL) — himself a member of the National Guard — treated them to pizza. Others, such as Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL), gave them tours of the Capitol.
Now, a day after the inauguration, they are being relegated to parking garages.
Politico reported that the number of National Guard members forced to evacuate the Capitol was in the “thousands,” with one unit of 5,000 troops forced to rest in a parking garage without internet reception and just one electrical outlet and one bathroom with two stalls.
“Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service. Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed,” one Guardsman told Politico.
Separately, the National Guard announced Thursday in a press release that 15,000 National Guardsmen are being sent back home, from the m0re than 26,000 sent to D.C. for the inauguration. The remaining 10,600 are still on duty, with that number to eventually go down to about 7,000 near the end of the month.
Story cited here.