|
Guard Troops Head Home After Inaugural 01/22 06:17
WASHINGTON (AP) -- After President Joe Biden's inauguration went off with
only a handful of minor arrests and incidents, more than 15,000 National Guard
members are preparing to leave Washington, D.C., and head home.
The National Guard Bureau said Thursday that of the nearly 26,000 Guard
troops deployed to D.C. for the inaugural, just 10,600 remain on duty. The
bureau said the Guard is helping states with coordination and the logistics so
that troops can get home.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post and Politico reported that hundreds of Guard
troops were forced out of areas of the Capitol they had been using for rest
breaks and were relocated to a nearby garage. Photos of the troops in the
garage drew outrage from lawmakers.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, tweeted: "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."
After midnight, Duckworth tweeted an update: "Troops are now all out of the
garage. Now I can go to bed." Politico reported that they had been allowed back
into the Capitol.
Thousands of Guard troops from all across the country poured into D.C. by
the planeload and busload late last week, in response to escalating security
threats and fears of more rioting. Military aircraft crowded the runways at
Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, carrying Guard members into the region in the
wake of the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Guard forces were scattered around the city, helping to secure the Capitol,
monuments, Metro entrances and the perimeter of central D.C., which was largely
locked down for several days leading up to Wednesday's inaugural ceremony.
The U.S. Secret Service announced that the special security event for the
inauguration officially ended at noon Thursday.
The Guard said that it may take several days to make all the arrangements to
return the 15,000 home, but it should be complete in five to 10 days. Guard
members will have to turn in equipment, make travel plans and go through
COVID-19 screening.
Some local law enforcement agencies have asked for continued assistance from
the Guard, so roughly 7,000 troops are expected to stay in the region through
the end of the month.
|
|