Gov. Cox Calls Utah National Guard Home From DC
Jan 22, 2021, 4:30 PM | Updated: 5:26 pm
Utah Guardsmen board a jet January 15 headed for Washington, D.C. (KSL TV)
(KSL TV)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has called members of the Utah National Guard home from Washington, D.C. after they were deployed to help with security during President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
The 360 Utah soldiers had been called up to the U.S. Capitol as part of a huge contingent of troops from around the country to make sure there was no insurgency or other disturbances at the inauguration.
“Since Jan. 15, our Utah National Guard troops have served in Washington, D.C. with distinction. Now it’s time to bring them home as we need their help distributing COVID-19 vaccinations throughout the state,” Cox said in a statement. “We’re grateful for the willingness of these dedicated men and women to serve whenever and wherever they are needed.”
Meanwhile, National Guard soldiers were allowed back inside the capitol after being forced to camp in a parking garage Thursday.
Sen. Mike Lee tweeted that he was very upset by the move.
Very upset by this story but I have been in touch with the Utah National Guard and they are taken care of. My staff and I are investigating what happened here and will continue working to fix this situation. https://t.co/Fw2ZVv4fgO
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 22, 2021
He wrote that he had been in touch with the Utah National Guard and they were taken care of. The Deseret News reported that the Utah contingent was not affected.
The tweet said it appears there was a miscommunication between law enforcement agencies about where Guardsmen were permitted to be and that was resolved.
