In the wake of the January 6 protests at the Capitol, some 25,000 National Guard troops were dispatched to Washington, following Trump supporters' storming of the building to prevent Joe Biden's victory certification. The fears of mass demonstrations linger, as the House impeached Trump and charged him with “willful incitement of insurrection”.
The pending Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump is a security issue that federal law enforcement officials told lawmakers last week that as many as 5,000 National Guard troops would need to stay in Washington until mid-March, Politico reported Sunday, citing sources.
According to the report, the soldiers on the ground have been given few details about the extension has been provided and wonder why they are being forced to endure combat-like conditions without a specific mission in the nation's capital. Up to the beginning of February, about 7,000 troops will continue to provide riot protection, with that number declining marginally to 5,000 by the time Trump's impeachment trial starts.
Around 25,000 troops were in Washington by Inauguration Day, where unprecedented security measures were put in place due to fears of nationwide armed demonstrations by Trump loyalists ahead of the event.
Media reported earlier that about 200 troops stationed within the capital area have contracted COVID-19, following several potential super spreader incidents,…
