The eviction of thousands of National Guardsmen from the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 21 left many with a feeling of betrayal. Politico reported late in the day that they were unceremoniously told to vacate Congressional office buildings and take their rest breaks outside or in parking garages.
One unit, which had been resting in the Dirksen Senate Office building, was abruptly told to vacate the facility on Jan. 21, according to one Guardsman. The group was forced to rest in a nearby parking garage without internet reception, with just one electrical outlet, and one bathroom with two stalls for 5,000 troops, a Guardsman told Politico. “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,” he said.
Guardsmen who spoke with Politico were not given a clear reason why they were asked to vacate the buildings. Guard spokesperson Maj. Matt Murphy said that the request was made by the Capitol Police. Guard leadership did not make the decision and are “doing their best to provide rest shelter for troops who are still on 12-hour shifts protecting the Capitol and congressional grounds,” the second Guardsman said. “There really may be an important reason for us to vacate and it just hasn’t been well communicated yet,” the second Guardsman said.
The photos showing Guardsmen leaning on their backpacks in the parking garage quickly went viral, bringing an avalanche of condemnation of their treatment. “Just heard that our troops will be moved back inside tonight,” Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) announced on Twitter. “We owe our National Guard and law enforcement officials a debt of gratitude that we can never truly repay. They’ve put everything on the line to protect us. I’m glad to hear they’ll be back indoors tonight.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) demanded an explanation from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Schumer—why are American troops who are tasked with keeping security at the Capitol being forced to sleep in a parking lot? “They deserve to be treated with respect, and we deserve answers.” he tweeted.
PJ Media declares that whereas Pelosi had condemned federal law enforcement in the harshest of terms when President Donald Trump deployed them to Portland — comparing them to stormtroopers — she happily shared photos of herself with the National Guard in D.C. after January 6.
