The troops were screened before arriving, but not all of them were tested, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Members of the National Guard take a rest in the Rotunda of the US Capitol in Washington, DC on 13 January 2021. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other lawmakers offered up their offices as a place to sleep or snack. The former chief of the US Capitol Police, who resigned following the mob, told the Washington Post he’d requested National Guard assistance numerous times ahead of the riot but was ignored, contradicting claims from officials who said the Guard hadn’t been requested. As lawmakers debated and voted on an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump , battle-ready National Guard troops were camped out amongst the artwork in the … Capitol tours had been shut down since the start of the pandemic in March, but were exclusively reopened for National Guard members on Saturday. The riots exposed a shaky security response at the Capitol, and the Guard has been in the spotlight ever since. National Guard, who had been protecting the Capitol since riots two weeks ago, were pictured taking shelter in parking garages having been asked to leave Capitol grounds. WASHINGTON - Hundreds of National Guard troops were pictured sleeping on the floor of the U.S. Capitol, called in to help protect the area a week after President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the building in a deadly siege — leaving concerns for security in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.. As many napped on the cold marble … Nearly 200 members of the National Guard deployed to the Capitol ahead of the inauguration tested positive for coronavirus, the Wall Street Journal reports. Thousands of National Guard troops were forced to move to a Washington parking garage on Thursday after they were told not to take their rest breaks inside buildings on Capitol Hill, according to multiple news reports. Defense officials told The Journal that each of the Guardsmen were screened for Covid exposure before being deployed to the Capitol, but not all were tested. They’ve gone from parking lot pariahs to honored guests. Federal security officials removed 12 Guardsmen from the force in the Capitol for alleged ties to militia groups and extremist views ahead of the inauguration. Hundreds of armed National Guard members were inside the halls of Congress amid reports of expected violence leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20. On Wednesday afternoon, Capitol Police Chief Steven A. Sund asked for help from the National Guard, a Washington official told The Washington Post, “An official from the [office of the] secretary of the Army said that wasn’t going to be possible.”. 33,426, This story has been shared 29,492 times. We apologise for any inconvenience caused but are excited to bring you a host of new commenting features very soon. The House and Senate were evacuated as rioters stormed the Capitol, and a woman was shot and killed during an attempt to access the House Chambers. Sitemap The National Guard was called in to protect the Capitol in the days after pro-Trump rioters rampaged through the building. And Stars and Stripes reported that 500 New Jersey National Guard soldiers have deployed to the nation’s capital to join forces with guardsmen from other states, including New York and Virginia. “This is outrageous, shameful, and incredibly disrespectful to the men and women keeping the US Capitol safe and secure,” Senator Kyrsten Sinema said. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The directive was later reversed after outcry from lawmakers. Thanks for contacting us. As lawmakers debated and voted on an article of impeachment against President Donald Trump , battle-ready National Guard troops were camped out amongst the artwork in the Capitol Rotunda, as well as … The backlash led the Guard to move their rest area back inside the Capitol, and the force offered a clashing explanation with Capitol police over who had initially ordered the troops to rest outside. Hundreds of National Guard troops hold inside the Capitol Visitor's Center to reinforce security at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. 29,492, This story has been shared 21,435 times. National Guardsmen enjoyed private, VIP tours of Washington, DC on Saturday, days after being crammed in a parking garage because they were kicked out of the Capitol building. Ahead of Joe Biden's inauguration, National Guard troops are in Washington, D.C., to provide security in the wake of riots in the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. Members of the Washington National Guard stand along a perimeter fence as an Olympia Fire Dept. Trump rebuffed initial requests to deploy the National Guard to the Capitol. Privacy Notice All National Guard troops had been told to vacate the Capitol and nearby buildings on Thursday, although it was unclear why. National Guard troops defending the Capitol in the wake of last week's assault by Trump supporters have been briefed on the possibility that improvised explosive devices may be used in follow-on attacks, Politico reported Wednesday, citing two National Guard members. Members of the National Guard walk outside the US Capitol on January 14, 2021, in Washington, DC. Hundreds of National Guard troops hold inside the Capitol Visitor's Center to reinforce security at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. National Guard authorised to use lethal force at Capitol as they prepare for potential inauguration protests. The soldiers were seen touring throughout Capitol Hill, with some taking photos of the frescoes featured on the Rotunda dome. January 23, 2021 | 11:50pm | Updated January 24, 2021 | 12:11am. The decision to mobilize the D.C. National Guard — by Secretary McCarthy and Christopher C. Miller, the acting defense secretary — came as a pro-Trump mob breached the Capitol earlier in the day. Within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage.”. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Outgoing Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, 55, reveals he asked for the National Guard to be on hand before Congress' joint session on Wednesday, but was denied. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium. (CNN) National Guard members supporting US Capitol security in Washington, DC, ahead of Inauguration Day will be armed, the Department of Defense announced Tuesday. The soldiers were allowed back into the Capitol late Thursday after they were forced out of the Capitol grounds and into a parking garage, where they had no internet reception and only two bathroom stalls. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. NBC reports the National Guard was called in to protect the Capitol after a pro-Trump mob stormed the building, leading to five deaths and dozens of injuries. “Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands and thanking us for our service. Vice President Kamala Harris enjoyed a hearty laugh on the... Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Photo by Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images. All National Guard troops had been told to vacate the Capitol and nearby buildings on Thursday, although it was unclear why. Law enforcement eventually cleared the Capitol after 5 p.m. and forced protesters to disperse. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? National Guard troops stand at attention outside security fencing along Pennsylvania Avenue as President-elect Joe Biden's motorcade drives past on its way to the U.S. Capitol. National Guard, who had been protecting the Capitol since riots two weeks ago, were pictured taking shelter in parking garages having been asked to leave Capitol grounds. The Pentagon has approved to deploy more than 15,000 additional National Guard troops in the national capitol. Last Wednesday, federal law enforcement officers not only had to deal with a pro-Trump mob … After 6 January’s pro-Trump mob attacked the Capitol, approximately 26,000 Guard troops from all 50 states were sent to secure Washington ahead of the inauguration, and officials worry their close working and living quarters contributed to the spread of the disease. 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