Utah Sen. Mike Lee is furious after the mayor of Washington, D.C. ordered National Guard troops to leave a local hotel.
“Just heard that Mayor Bowser is kicking the Utah National Guard out of all DC hotels tomorrow,” the Republican lawmaker wrote on Twitter. “More than 1,200 troops from 10 states are being evicted. This is unacceptable.”Mayor Muriel Bowser had asked President Trump to withdraw all “extraordinary federal law enforcement and military presence” from the nation’s capital.
She also posted messages on Twitter calling for governors from New Jersey and Ohio to remove their troops from the District.
“They were brought to the District without my knowledge and request,” the mayor wrote.
“These brave men and women have risked their lives protecting DC for three days. Rioting, looting, arson, and vandalism have all disappeared bc these soldiers served. And now they are being kicked to the curb by an ungrateful mayor. This must be stopped,” Lee said.The National Guard troops had been staying at the Marriott Marquis, but were ordered to vacate their rooms.
“Some National Guard responders were quartering in hotel accommodations which had preexisting contractual agreements with the District,” the National Guard said in a prepared statement. “Out of respect for existing agreements those facilities have with the city government, those service members have relocated. For further information, please contact city government.”
Just heard that Mayor Bowser is kicking the Utah National Guard out of all DC hotels tomorrow. More than 1200 troops from 10 states are being evicted. This is unacceptable. 1/2
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 5, 2020
These brave men and women have risked their lives protecting DC for three days. Rioting, looting, arson, and vandalism have all disappeared bc these soldiers served. And now they are being kicked to the curb by an ungrateful mayor. This must be stopped. 2/2 pic.twitter.com/YYyctKvUqN
— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) June 5, 2020
