By
Brie Stimson | Fox News
"Garage kept" may be great for classic cars -- but for National Guard members it may be disrespectful.
Reports
of shabby treatment of National Guard troops at the U.S. Capitol were
sparking bipartisan outrage among lawmakers and other officials Thursday
-- with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calling for the return home of his
state's Guard members.
Thousands of National Guard troops from several states had deployed to the U.S. Capitol to protect Wednesday's inauguration of President Biden against threats of violence following the Jan. 6 riot.
Photos
of Guard members sleeping on the marble floors of the Capitol quickly
went viral -- until they later received cots. Then on Thursday came
another insult: According to reports, the Guard members were abruptly
told to take their break time inside a parking garage instead of inside
the Capitol.
The Guardsmen, who had been resting inside the
Capitol between 12-hour shifts, were moved to a nearby parking garage
where photos obtained by Politico and other outlets showed members
crowded together on the ground -- some resting their heads against
cement pillars.
By Thursday evening, Abbott was among those who had apparently seen enough.
"I
have instructed General Norris to order the return of the Texas
National Guard to our state," the Republican governor wrote on Twitter,
referring to Major Gen. Tracy Norris of the Texas National Guard.
Abbott
previously objected to reports that Guard members were being "vetted"
over concerns about a possible "inside" attack during the Biden
inauguration.
More outrage came earlier Thursday from other lawmakers and officials, both Republicans and Democrats.
Senate
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., tweeted about the parking garage
reports, "If this is true, it's outrageous. I will get to the bottom of
this."
NATIONAL GUARD SAYS THERE WERE 'NO CONFRONTATIONS' WITH PROTESTERS DURING BIDEN INAUGURATION
U.S.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., tweeted, "This is absolutely unacceptable
and despicable treatment of our brave and dedicated National Guard who
answered the call to serve. We need to demand answers now and this needs
to be fixed immediately."
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., called the treatment of Guard members, "outrageous, shameful, and incredibly disrespectful."
"We need it fixed and we need answers on how it happened," she tweeted.
Sinema
was one of several lawmakers to offer the use of her office to the
Guardsmen and at around 10:30 p.m. ET she tweeted that the members had
all been "welcomed back to the Capitol tonight. No more parking
garages."
CBS reporter Kris Van Cleave reported early Friday the
National Guard said the troops are out of the garage and will take their
breaks in Emancipation Hall at the Capitol Visitors Center from now on.
He included a video of the troops leaving the garage.
Sen.
Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., confirmed that she had made several calls and
had been informed the "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."
Rep.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who also offered her office, confirmed the
Guardsmen were being allowed back in the Capitol and said an offer of
snacks "still stands."
NATIONAL GUARDSMEN REMOVED FROM US CAPITOL AHEAD OF INAUGURATION
One
Guardsman told Politico that on the day of the inauguration dozens of
lawmakers had taken photos with them, shook their hands and thanked them
for their service. He added, "Within 24 hours, they had no further use
for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel
incredibly betrayed."
Politico reported the unit that had been
using space in the Dirksen Senate Office building were asked to move to
the garage by the Capitol Police.
"After significant outcry, it
seems like there is movement right now to get Guard members back inside
the Capitol, into the visitors center," Politico reporter Natasha
Bertrand, tweeted.
Politico
reporter Lara Seligman said a Guard source told her "all units at the
Thurgood Marshall parking garage are ordered to relocate to the CVC
immediately."
The
U.S. Capitol Police put out a statement on the report saying, "The
United States Capitol Police immensely appreciates the integral support
of the U.S. National Guard in helping to secure the Capitol Complex
leading up to, and including the Inaugural ceremony. The Department is
grateful for their service and our strong partnership during this time."
It
continued, "The Department’s request for National Guard assistance
included a specific number of personnel to allow the National Guard to
provide, at a minimum, 12 hours of off-campus rest time for the troops,
and understood that this would be carried out throughout their
deployment. Recently, the Department requested that the troops’
schedules be changed so they work no more than 8-hour shifts to allow
for more off-campus rest time post-Inauguration."
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The
Guardsmen have been using the garage only for breaks between their long
shifts and have recently had hotel rooms to sleep in at night, Van
Cleave tweeted.
A spokesman for the National Guard told Politico,
"As Congress is in session and increased foot traffic and business is
being conducted, Capitol Police asked the troops to move their rest
area. They were temporarily relocated to the Thurgood Marshall Judicial
Center garage with heat and restroom facilities. We remain an agile and
flexible force to provide for the safety and security of the Capitol and
its surrounding areas. The Guard is reviewing the request so that
logistics and schedules can be adjusted."
The National Guard did not immediately respond to a Fox News request for comment.
