Governors yank National Guard troops from DC after military members were booted from Capitol, made to rest in unheated parking garage



Texas, Florida, and New Hampshire Republican Govs. Greg Abbott, Ron DeSantis, and Chris Sununu have recalled members of their state National Guard from Washington, D.C., after thousands of soldiers were forced to rest in a parking garage in near-freezing temperatures.

Thousands of National Guardsmen were deployed to the U.S. Capitol two weeks ago following the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 and in preparation of President Joe Biden's inauguration Wednesday.

The service members slept indoors, on cots and on the floors of Washington, D.C.'s federal buildings, until last night.

What are the details?

On Thursday night, Abbott tweeted, "I have instructed General Norris to order the return of the Texas National Guard to our state."

I have instructed General Norris to order the return of the Texas National Guard to our state. @TexasGuard
— Greg Abbott (@Greg Abbott)1611288059.0

On Friday morning, DeSantis tweeted, "Last night, I ordered our Adjutant General to bring Florida National Guard soldiers home from the National Capital Region."

Last night, I ordered our Adjutant General to bring Florida National Guard soldiers home from the National Capital Region.
— Ron DeSantis (@Ron DeSantis)1611316037.0

According to a Friday report from the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, DeSantis appeared on Fox News' "Fox & Friends," where he revealed the decision.

Calling the assignment a "half-cocked mission," DeSantis snapped, "They are soldiers; they are not Nancy Pelosi's servants."

For his part, Sununu on Friday tweeted, "I've ordered the immediate return of all New Hampshire National Guard from Washington DC. They did an outstanding job serving our nation's capital in a time of strife and should be graciously praised, not subject to substandard conditions."

I’ve ordered the immediate return of all New Hampshire National Guard from Washington DC. They did an outstanding j… https://t.co/VoaEwozCbM
— Chris Sununu (@Chris Sununu)1611317925.0

What else?

According to a Politico report Thursday night, the move was damaging to the soldiers' morale.

"One unit, which had been resting in the Dirksen Senate Office building, was abruptly told to vacate the facility on Thursday, according to one Guardsman," the outlet reported. "The group was forced to rest in a nearby parking garage without internet reception, with just one electrical outlet, and one bathroom with two stalls for 5,000 troops, the person said. Temperatures in Washington were in the low 40s by nightfall."

The outlet revealed that hours later — and following much outcry — the guardsmen "were allowed back into the buildings to rest and the Capitol Police apologized for the incident."

One unnamed guardsman said, "Yesterday dozens of senators and congressmen walked down our lines taking photos, shaking our hands, and thanking us for our service. Within 24 hours, they had no further ruse for us and banished us to the corner of a parking garage. We feel incredibly betrayed."

You can read more on the night's events here.

What has Biden said?

On Friday, the New York Times reported that Biden personally phoned the chief of the National Guard Bureau and issued an apology for Thursday night's events.

"In the telephone call with Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, the head of the National Guard Bureau, Mr. Biden apologized and asked what he could do, officials said," the report explained.

"Officials said that the White House may also hold a call with state officials to thank them for the deployment of the National Guard personnel who provided security for the inauguration," the report concluded.

Horowitz: Governors have an obligation to rescind deployment of National Guard



When our border was under assault by the drug cartels and human smugglers, the entire political class, media, and governors opposed the deployment of the National Guard to defend the sovereignty of the union. When cities were burning out of control night after night, they opposed using the military to stanch the bleeding in the streets. Now, these same people seem OK with 25,000 troops being paraded around in D.C. and in some state capitals with no end in sight. Worse, the military is being purged of "far-right extremists," and it wouldn't be surprising to learn that that encompasses all Trump supporters.

Where is this coming from, and where is this headed? That is the question all GOP governors should be asking – a question that should prompt them to immediately rescind the deployment order.

Why are we suddenly "vetting" our own soldiers in order to perform a "mission" in a way that appears to be an ideological litmus test? How long will these soldiers remain? These are the questions governors must ask before they sign off on indefinite deployment of their state's Guard.

"These are vetting efforts that identify any questionable behavior in the past, or any potential link to questionable behavior, not just related to extremism ... we're not asking questions right now," said Jonathan Hoffman, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs. He noted that they are not even asking questions, but "out of abundance of caution taking action and immediately removing them from the line," in describing the purging of people while looking at their history and social media.

.@chiefpentspox on National Guard individuals removed from their duties: "These are vetting efforts that identify a… https://t.co/BOzrmJ6DMZ
— CSPAN (@CSPAN)1611086902.0

And as has been the case throughout the COVID restrictions, they are encouraging fellow Guard members to report one another.

Objectively speaking, what does this look like to you? Where have we seen this throughout history?

Put another way, can you imagine if these comments were made and these actions taken in support of Trump's inauguration four years ago?

What is going on today is as shocking as it is chilling. What is even more shocking is the silence from most GOP governors who sent national guardsman to D.C. Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed concern about the ideological litmus test, but only threatened to cut off cooperation in the future. He needs to go a step farther and commit to cutting off soldiers now until the purge stops and until there is a timeline and a justification given for keeping the soldiers there.

The thousands of people pouring over our border in 2019 were unmistakable. Plus, protecting our border is what our Founders had in mind as the purview of the military. Yet, the New Mexico governor pulled the National Guard from her own border with Mexico while facing a crisis of human and drug smuggling and is now sending them to D.C. for Biden's military junta.

Keeping soldiers in our cities with no prima facie violence occurring anywhere is a recipe for a military junta-style government, absent the feds sharing legitimate intelligence with these governors justifying these unprecedented moves.

The purging is not just about taking these soldiers off this particular mission. It's inconceivable that once they are flagged for concern and disqualified from duty at the inauguration (and beyond?), this will not be a black mark on their careers forever. Governors need to stand up for their guardsmen.

“We no get inbolbed in powitico dings”#WERMACHT #COWARDS https://t.co/3an48ZO3XV
— Rich Higgins (@Rich Higgins)1611092599.0

Two weeks after the Capitol attack with zero evidence of any residual violence on the streets, why is D.C. a military zone and why are some state capitals following suit? Just this Monday, 11 NYPD officers were injured in a Black Lives Matter riot, yet the American people haven't even heard about it. When BLM was burning D.C. night after night, and after 60 Secret Service agents were injured at an attack near the White House, Pelosi lambasted Trump for using the military, even though he only used it when the violence was out of control.

"We are concerned about the increased militarization and lack of clarity that may increase chaos. I am writing to request a full list of the agencies involved and clarifications of the roles and responsibilities of the troops and federal law enforcement resources operating in the city," Pelosi wrote in a letter to President Trump on June 4, 2020. "Congress and the American people need to know who is in charge, what is the chain of command, what is the mission, and by what authority is the National Guard from other states operating in the capital."

Joe Biden accused Trump of "preening and sweeping away all the guardrails that have long protected our democracy."

Which guardrails? Military loyalty to one party? Full censorship of any opposition? Banning protests and access to elected officials? Muzzling us with masks and lockdowns?

Now that the military is being used in greater numbers without clarity of a time limit for a speculative threat that is not evident on the streets – and they are engaging in the most comprehensive vetting of soldiers ever – why aren't Republican governors raising similar concerns? Mitt Romney criticized Trump for using the military when D.C. was on fire. Where is he now?

Ultimately, it is up to the governors to put an end to this charade. Every one of them needs to ask what they would do if Trump had surrounded himself with 25,000 troops and destroyed the military careers of anyone who supported Hillary Clinton.

Horowitz: Caravans of young men head toward our border, as military is dispatched … against the American people



We owe the Guatemalan government gratitude for caring about our border security more than our own government does. Guatemala's effort to halt the coming caravan invasion aimed at our border will give us at least a few weeks to ponder and plan for our future.

James Madison explained in Federalist #45 that the powers of the federal government are "few and defined," applied "principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation, and foreign commerce." He warned: "The more adequate, indeed, the federal powers may be rendered to the national defense, the less frequent will be those scenes of danger which might favor their ascendancy over the governments of the particular States."

Well, because we now have a government that not only fails to block external invasion but actively invites it, it is no surprise that that government is using the military domestically rather than to repel an invasion. In the same way, it is using a border wall around the Capitol to keep out Americans while opposing a wall to keep drug cartels and previously deported sex offenders from returning. In other words, per Madison's warning, a government that fails to protect our border controls our life, liberty, property, and free speech.

Even before the formation of the latest caravan, individual illegal aliens have been increasing their presence at our border. In December, Customs and Border Protection apprehended 73,513 individuals, the highest number in 17 months. The border flow for the first three months of this fiscal year is 69% greater than over the same period in FY 2020. The Biden/Harris welcome mat is not lost on the world.

A caravan formed in Honduras consisting of at least 6,000 individuals who appear to be mainly young males was stopped at the Guatemalan border on Sunday, thanks to a multi-layered security apparatus. There are reportedly still about 2,000 of them camped out near the border of Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. In the long run, there is no way those countries have the ability to stave off the stampede of people coming for the promise of amnesty.

Google translate: "Thousands of migrants traveling to the United States moved through Guatemala on Saturday, as the… https://t.co/2i0BysOCgK
— Todd Bensman (@Todd Bensman)1610895206.0


Honduran migrant: President-elect Biden is "going to help all of us." https://t.co/LkrVCsXcSb
— The Hill (@The Hill)1610987328.0

They know that the only security our government cares about is building a wall and using the military against its own people. In August, Joe Biden promised, "There will not be another foot of wall constructed on my administration." Now with an East Berlin-style wall erected around the Capitol, perhaps we can see they were saving resources for a different type of wall. One Democrat Congressman even has a bill to direct the architect of the Capitol to build a permanent security fence around the entire complex.

Imagine if the wall and the military were deployed in full at our border as the caravans came up. Our border would look as quiet as D.C is this week. During the border crisis of 2018-19, when Trump deployed the military to the border, we heard endless cries of Trump violating posse comitatus. Even the Trump administration refused to use the military for anything beyond a humanitarian mission and for observation. Mexican soldiers even snuck up on our military on our own soil and jumped two of our soldiers because they weren't deployed for combat. A Marine was attacked in El Centro, California, in May while sitting unarmed in one of these blacked-out Mobile Surveillance Camera vehicles.

So even the Trump administration felt that somehow our military couldn't be used for the quintessential purpose of repelling an invasion on our soil. Yet now that 30,000 troops are being paraded all over D.C. with no violence in sight, we are to believe this doesn't run afoul of the law against using the military to enforce domestic laws.

In November 2019, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) accused Trump of "using the military as his own private militia" simply for securing our border against foreign invaders during the worst border crisis ever. Where is she now that Biden is holding a Stalin-style inauguration backed by more troops than are still in our last three war theaters combined? It sure looks like a private military junta to me.

Sadly, anything and everything is being justified under the guise of protecting Biden's inauguration, just like everything was justified to combat a virus. Which is perhaps why they won't justify using the military at the border, for that would block the entry of Biden's most prominent inaugural parade.

Texas Gov. Abbott rips move by Pentagon and FBI to vet National Guard troops ahead of Inauguration: 'Most offensive thing I've ever heard'



Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has had it with what he sees as "offensive" treatment of National Guard troops by the Pentagon and the FBI ahead of Wednesday's inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

The Washington Post reported Monday that the Pentagon had vowed to vet the tens of thousands of troops being sent to Washington, D.C., for Inauguration Day, with assistance from the FBI. The added scrutiny, the paper said, was based on "concern about potential internal threats" after multiple suspects from the Jan. 6 Capitol riots were found to have ties to both law enforcement and the military.

Gov. Abbott, who sent more than 1,000 Texas National Guardsman to D.C. to assist with security, said he's not at all happy with what he sees as disrespect for the men and women in uniform. In at Twitter response to the Post story, Abbott called the move to vet troops "offensive" and stood behind the integrity of the Texas National Guard personnel.

"This is the most offensive thing I've ever heard," Abbott vented. "No one should ever question the loyalty or professionalism of the Texas National Guard."

Noting that he had sent more than 1,000 troops for the inauguration, he vowed that, if this is how they're going to be treated, then Texas troops would just have to sit it out the next time they're needed for such an event.

"I'll never do it again if they are disrespected like this," the governor said.

This is the most offensive thing I've ever heard.No one should ever question the loyalty or professionalism of th… https://t.co/Bt06g7BWV3
— Greg Abbott (@Greg Abbott)1611018197.0

According to Fox News, defense officials are worried about an "insider attack" or other possible threats from service members charged with Inauguration security.

A Sunday statement from the U.S. Army, Fox News reported, said the military and the Secret Service were working to determine if there were any troops in D.C. needing additional background screening.

The Defense Department instituted the increased scrutiny in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol and subsequent threats of violence across the nation uncovered by the FBI last week.

Shortly after the Capitol attack, the government was seeking 6,000 to 8,000 National Guard troops for the inauguration. The number of troops quickly ballooned to 20,000 by the end of last week. On Monday, multiple reports put the personnel level at 25,000.

Last Tuesday, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy authorized the thousands of troops providing security in the area around the Capitol to use lethal force.

National Guard troops stationed at US Capitol cleared to use lethal force



Following the riot at the U.S. Capitol, security has ballooned on Capitol Hill in preparation for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and to quell and prevent any repeat violence from pro-Trump activists or other radicals seeking to cause chaos.

Authorities initially activated a few thousand unarmed National Guard troops for security, noting that they were serving at the Capitol in a support role. But that changed this week.

Since the Jan. 6 riot, government officials have become increasingly concerned over security in the days leading up to Inauguration Day — both in the District of Columbia and at capitols in all 50 states — as the FBI has warned of threats of violence across the nation.

In response to the credible threats of violence, federal officials ordered 20,000 National Guard troops to the nation's capital, according to U.S. News & World Report.

On Tuesday, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy authorized the thousands of troops providing security in the area around the Capitol to use lethal force, New York Times reported.

"On January 12, 2021, National Guardsmen were given authorization to be armed in support of the U.S. Capitol Police to protect the U.S. Capitol and individual members of Congress and their staff," D.C. National Guard said in a statement cited by U.S. News & World Report.

"Guardsmen are trained in the use of lethal and less-than-lethal force, de-escalation techniques, as well as the use of protective equipment. This is standard for civil disturbance response missions," the statement continued. "The National Guard is proud to support the Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police and Park Police who are leading the security efforts during the events for the 59th Presidential Inauguration."

The move was "requested by federal authorities and authorized by the Secretary of the Army," Military.com reported. The National Guard Bureau did not specify what weapons the troops would be carrying.

McCarthy made his decision after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) "demanded that the Pentagon take a more muscular posture after a mob, egged on by President Trump last week, breached the Capitol," the Times said.

According the the Times, Defense Department officials are worried about protests planned for Inauguration Day, saying that 16 groups have registered to stage protests, most of them "hard-line supporters" of President Donald Trump. And some of the groups have stated they will be armed, despite the fact that firearms are illegal in the district.

Erin Schaff - Pool/Getty Images

Trump calls on National Guard to secure Congress from his rioting supporters



The president called on the National Guard to help quell the violence at the Capitol after rioting broke out against members of Congress trying to certify the results of the election.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany announced through her official social media account on Wednesday.

"At President @realDonaldTrump's direction, the National Guard is on the way along with other federal protective services," said McEnany.

At President @realDonaldTrump's direction, the National Guard is on the way along with other federal protective ser… https://t.co/W155ExoyKF
— Kayleigh McEnany (@Kayleigh McEnany)1609965389.0

"We reiterate President Trump's call against violence and to remain peaceful," she added.

Chaos erupted after tens of thousands of Trump supporters demonstrated at the Capitol when many marched to Congress and stormed into the proceedings. Members of Congress were evacuated and the session was suspended.

Scenes of chaos from within the riot were widely circulated on social media. One woman was shot in the neck and carried out of the melee in a stretcher.

Vice President Mike Pence tweeted and called for the violence to end.

"The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the building," said Pence.

The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must re… https://t.co/ZlHvU6wXBW
— Mike Pence (@Mike Pence)1609965302.0

"Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," he added.

Other lawmakers have decried the violence and the destruction at the nation's capital.

Here's more about the rioting at the capital:

Pro-Trump protesters storm US Capitolwww.youtube.com