Capitol Police reversed request that members of the National Guard guarding the Capitol remain in a parking garage



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After spending days in the cold securing the U.S. Capitol after the death siege two weeks ago, Citizen Members of the National Guard were urged to leave the Capitol building and move to a nearby parking lot to rest during their shifts. The move drew swift condemnation from lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who called the move “scandalous.”

Several insisted that it be reversed.

And that was, Thursday night, according to one of the lawmakers, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D – Illinois), who tweeted: “Update: The troops are now all out of the garage. Now I can go to bed. . ”

The guard issued a statement saying: “Brigadier General Janeen Birckhead, Inauguration Task Force Commander, confirms that the troops have exited the garage and returned to the Capitol building as authorized by the USCP commander ( United States Capitol Police) their breaks near Emancipation Hall. ”

At around 3 p.m. on Thursday, Capitol Police asked the National Guard to move soldiers who were using the Capitol halls and open space to rest during their shifts, the Guard Bureau spokesperson said. National, Major Matt Murphy, to CBS News.

“As Congress is in session and foot traffic and business is on the rise, Capitol Police have asked troops to relocate their staging area,” Murphy said. “They were temporarily moved to the garage at the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center with heating and toilets.”

About 3,500 National Guardsmen were moved out of the Capitol, but not all were in the parking lot at the same time. During their on-call shift, members are taken to the garage to warm up and take a break, and the guards return to a hotel when their shift is over.

Some guards expressed their displeasure at being transferred to a parking lot. Although the garage is heated and lighted, toilets, cell phones, internet service, and power outlets are limited.

Politico first reported the move, and lawmakers criticized it. “It is outrageous, shameful and incredibly disrespectful to the men and women who keep the US Capitol safe,” said Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D – Arizona). “We need to fix it and we need answers on how it went.”

“Unreal. I cannot believe that the same brave servicemen that we asked to protect our Capitol and our Constitution for the past two weeks would be unceremoniously ordered to leave the building,” said Senator Tammy Duckworth. “I demand answers as soon as possible. They can use my office.”

Murphy told CBS News that “They had to go somewhere, from what I understand. There will always be ruffled feathers, some people won’t like it. The troops keep going. They still get their missions done and that” is what they are. Do. “

Duckworth and Sinema later tweeted that they had been told the guards would be moved out of the parking lot, but the decision had not been officially announced.

Capitol Police said in a statement Thursday evening that the department “greatly appreciates the full support of the US National Guard to help secure the Capitol complex prior to and including the inaugural ceremony.” The ministry said it had recently asked that the shifts of members of the guard be shortened to allow more off-campus rest time.



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