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Thousands of National Guardsmen were “banned” from a cramped parking lot after being abruptly forced out of parts of the US Capitol grounds Thursday, according to reports.
Officers were told they could no longer access areas of the U.S. Capitol complex – including a Senate office cafeteria previously used as a rest area – after tirelessly protecting the nation’s capital in the days leading up to the inauguration presidential, according to Politico.
“We honestly feel betrayed,” said one guard. “After everything went smoothly, we were deemed unnecessary and banished to a corner of a garage.”
A unit of 5,000 officers – enlisted after the deadly breach at the U.S. Capitol earlier this month – was forced to take breaks in a nearby garage with no internet reception, a single electrical outlet and only two washrooms, according to the report.
The photos appear to show officers lying on the cement floor to rest and sleep while leaning against concrete pillars inside the garage, which angered some officers.
“We feel incredibly betrayed,” said one guard. “Yesterday, dozens of Senators and Congressmen walked our lines to take photos, shake our hands and thank us for our service. In less than 24 hours, they no longer served us and banned us from the corner of a parking lot.
Approximately 25,000 National Guard soldiers were called to Washington DC from all 50 states to protect the city during President Joe Biden’s inauguration due to heightened security concerns following the deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol on January 6 , which claimed the lives of five people.
Many of these officers used a cafe in the Dirksen Senate office building as a place to relax during breaks and connect to the internet, but were ordered to leave the Capitol and nearby Congress buildings on Thursday afternoon, officials told the media.
The National Guard Bureau said the troop had been temporarily relocated because Congress was in session.
“The National Guard continues to assist and support the United States Capitol Police. As Congress is in session and foot traffic and business increase, Capitol Police have asked troops to relocate their staging area, ”the National Guard Office said in a statement. “They were temporarily moved to the garage at the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center with heating and toilets. We remain an agile and flexible force to ensure the safety and security of the Capitol and its surroundings. “
But the incident sparked outrage from some lawmakers who vowed to find a way for them to stay inside the Capitol building.
“My office is available; the guard is welcome there. There is plenty of space in the United States Capitol for the men and women who protect us, ”said Representative Kyrsten Sinema (D-Arizona) tweeted Thursday evening.
A spokesperson for the US National Guard later told a FOX News reporter that the troops will probably be moved at the Capitol visitors center, outraged by the garage situation.
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