National Guard Exits US Capitol After January 6 riot

The US Capitol stood unprotected by National Guard troops for the first time in nearly five months Monday.

The last 2,149 of what had been nearly 26,000 troops in an extraordinary deployment in Washington departed over the weekend as their mission to protect Congress formally ended.

The troops were mobilized after hundreds of supporters of then-president Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, halting the joint session of Congress to confirm Trump’s rival Joe Biden as winner of the presidential election.

Amid fears of more threats around and following the January 20 inauguration of Biden, thousands of Guard troops were mobilized, patrolling the Capitol area day and night while a large fence encircled the grounds, making it appear a building under siege.

The troops remained in Washington for months after the inauguration as what many dubbed an insurrection was investigated.

Since January 6 the FBI has arrested and charged some 440 people involved in attacking the legislature.