National Guard: “We Feel Incredibly BETRAYED”

"Virginia National Guard" (CC BY 2.0) by The National Guard

On Thursday, thousands of National Guardsmen have been photographed sleeping in parking garages after Democrats took complete control of the federal government following Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Photos of the National Guardsmen’s living conditions were circulated on social media on Thursday as they were forced to vacate congressional grounds and sleep in parking garages despite freezing temperatures in the nation’s capital. 

Meanwhile, a source who is familiar with the security discussions at the U.S. Capitol told the Daily Wire that “Speaker Pelosi personally met with the Secretary of the Army to demand 14,000 National Guard troops be deployed to the Capitol. But there was no logistical plan provided by the Speaker’s office on where the service members would sleep.“

A National Guardsmen told Politico that yesterday, there were dozens of congressmen and senators who walked down their lines taking photos, shaking their hands and thanking them for their service. The National Guard continued and said, “within 24 hours, they had no further use for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed.”

According to the report by Politico, all National Guard troops were asked to vacate the U.S. Capitol and nearby buildings last Thursday and asked to set up mobile command centers outside the vicinity or in the nearby hotels. One National Guar also said that they were told to take their rest breaks during their 12-hour shifts outside and in parking garages.

After the photos were circulated on social media, numerous lawmakers showed their outrage and promptly offered their offices to the National Guardsmen. Republican Senator Joni Ernst wrote on Twitter, 

“Simply unacceptable. You’re always welcome in my office. As a former Iowa National Guard member, I know how hard it is to wear those boots. Thank you for your service every day.”

Republican Senator Marco Rubio also took it on Twitter and posted, “We should be grateful to the members of the National Guard who are here securing the Capitol.” He continued, “I don’t know who ordered them to go sleep in a garage and can’t understand why they would do that. It needs to be reversed.”

Senator Rick Scott also wrote on Twitter, “This is unacceptable. These men and women are serving our nation and should be treated with the respect they deserve. I have directed my team to help in any way we can, including offering our office space in D.C. to support these brave individuals in their mission.”

On the other hand, Democratic Senators also expressed outrage about what happened. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also expressed outrage as he wrote on Twitter, “If this is true, it’s outrageous. I will get to the bottom of this.”

Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois also wrote, “Unreal. I can’t believe that the same brave service members we’ve been asking to protect our Capitol and our Constitution these last two weeks would be unceremoniously ordered to vacate the building. I am demanding answers ASAP. They can use my office.”

He continued and said, “I meant ASAP when I said it. I just made a number of calls and have been informed Capitol Police have apologized to the Guardsmen, and they will be allowed back into the complex tonight. I’ll keep checking to make sure they are.”

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