WASHINGTON, D.C., USA — Thursday night, POLITICO broke the story that scores of National Guard troops had been kicked out of the US Capitol building, and were literally sitting in a nearby parking garage. Subsequent reporting shows Capitol Police and Guard leadership in disagreement over who ordered whom to go where.
Now, several members of Congress are asking questions, including West Michigan Republican, Peter Meijer.
"We're still trying to determine between the Capitol Police and the Guard just what happened."
The same day, Meijer met with more than 600 members of the Michigan National Guard to thank them for their defense of the Capitol in the days since the insurrection on January 6th, and though the inauguration of new President Joe Biden on the 20th. Now, Meijer says, it's time to find out why this happened.
"It's obviously unsatisfactory and there has to be accountability."
He's now speaking with some members of the Guard to see what they know about what happened.
"To try and figure out, 'what was filtered down to you?'"
Some Republicans are blaming Democrats. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) tweeted directly at Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and new Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Many, however, have noted the very reason National Guard troops were in D.C. was because of the attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters who were motivated by a series of lies by many in the GOP that the election was stolen.
But, Meijer isn't pointing fingers at anyone yet, including other lawmakers, Capitol Police, or the Guard.
"I've been talking to members on both sides of the aisle trying to get the latest information." He went on to say, "I don't want to presume bad faith, because sometimes and order can be misinterpreted... or direction can be given and then be applied in a way that was not aligned with intent."
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