Govs. Ron DeSantis, Chris Sununu and Greg Abbott have announced that they are bringing their troops from the Washington, DC National Guard, after reports that they were placed in a parking lot near the Capitol to rest during their shifts, a move that caused outrage in the treatment of members. of the service.
US Capitol Police (USCP) ordered troops to move their rest area during their 12-hour shifts inside the Capitol to the parking lot of the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Center, the National Guard said on Friday.
But USCP interim chief Yogananda Pittman rejected that statement in a statement.
“I want to assure everyone that, with the exception of specific times on Induction Day itself while the oath ceremonies were in progress, the United States Capitol Police did not instruct the National Guard to vacate the Capitol premises,” said Pittman. “And on Induction Day, the Guard was warned and encouraged to reoccupy the Capitol and CVC spaces at 2 pm”.
Pittman continued: “We were informed earlier today that the administration of the facilities with the Thurgood Marshall Judicial Office Building has contacted the National Guard directly to offer the use of its facilities.”
The location of the troop rest intervals was changed on Friday, with troops now authorized by the US Capitol Police Commander to take their breaks near the Emancipation Hall.
“We remain an agile and flexible force to ensure the security and protection of the Capitol and its surrounding areas,” said a spokesman for the National Guard Office. “Our troops are going to hotel rooms or other comfortable accommodations at the end of their shifts.”
But DeSantis, a Republican, is still bringing the Florida National Guard back to the Sunshine State.
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“Last night, I ordered our deputy general to bring Florida National Guard soldiers home from the National Capital Region,” he said in a tweet on Friday.
National Guard troops leave a parking lot amid controversy over the fact that soldiers were ordered to rest there during their 12-hour shifts.
(National guard)
In “Fox & Friends”, reacting to the controversy, DeSantis also condemned the National Guard troops’ background checks for radicalism before the inauguration and called for the massive effort to protect the Capitol from a “half-armed mission at this point.”
DeSantis’ move follows a similar decision by Abbott, also a Republican.
“I instructed General Norris to order the Texas National Guard to return to our state,” Abbott tweeted on Thursday night. Abbott had also raised an objection similar to DeSantis on the background checks of members of the National Guard.
Sununu, the governor of the New Hampshire Republican Party, also announced that he is calling back his state’s National Guard, saying that soldiers “should be graciously praised, not subject to precarious conditions”. But outrage at soldiers sent to rest in a garage was hardly partisan.
“If that’s true, it’s outrageous,” said Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, DN.Y., in response to an initial Politico report on the situation. “I’m going to get to the bottom of this.”
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Also condemning the situation were Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va .; Tom Cotton, R-Ark .; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Jeff Merkley, D-Ore .; John Boozman, R-Ark .; and Maggie, Hassan, DN.H., among other senators and a litany of members of the House.
Merkley specifically offered the conference rooms and bathrooms in his office to members of the guard. The United States Capitol Police said in a statement on Friday that they “thank you so much” for the help of the National Guard in recent days.
“The United States Capitol Police greatly appreciates the full support of the United States National Guard in helping to protect the Capitol Complex that preceded and included the inauguration ceremony. The Department is grateful for its services and our strong partnership during this time. , US Capitol Police said in a statement.
He continued: “The National Guard assistance department’s request included a specific number of personnel to allow the National Guard to provide at least 12 hours off-campus rest for the troops, and understood that this would be done throughout the implementation time. “
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“The Department recently requested that troop schedules be changed so that they work no more than 8-hour shifts to allow more off-campus rest after taking office,” added the United States Capitol Police. “The Guard is analyzing the request so that the logistics and schedules can be adjusted.”
The increase in the level of threat to the Capitol came after a pro-Trump crowd invaded and looted the building on January 6, while members participated in a joint session to certify the results of the presidential election.
Former Vice President Mike Pence, along with hundreds of lawmakers, were forced to hide from the crowd.
Brie Stimson, Chad Pergram and Lucas Tomlinson of Fox News contributed to this report.