GOP Sen. Roger Marshall Gives Convoy Truckers Protesting Covid Restrictions Tour Of U.S. Capitol

GOP Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) gave truckers from the “People’s Convoy,” a group of truckers trying to slow D.C. traffic to protest Covid-19 restrictions, a tour of the U.S. Capitol while the building remains closed to the public.

Since Covid-19 closed much of the country in March 2020, tours of the Capitol have been closed to the general public. Members of the Senate are permitted to give two small tours per week. Marshall agreed to give members of the convoy a tour.

A senior congressional aide alerted the Department of Justice about the People’s Convoy presence out of concern that the tour could be a way to develop an entry plan into the building. Capitol Hill police have been preparing for weeks for the truckers to come to Washington in response they put up a fence around the building.

But when the truckers arrived to the Capitol, they did not protest. The fence was taken down but some barricades remain in place. A spokesperson for the Capitol Police said the Police Department will develop a ”safe plan” to open the building in short order.

In a statement, Marshall’s office said, “Kansans – especially those who have driven over 1,000 miles to get to D.C. – deserve access to their U.S. Capitol.”

By a 48-47 vote, the Senate this month approved legislation sponsored by Marshall to end the national state of emergency. To protest the government mandates, the truckers have been driving around interstate 495 known as the Beltway, but on Monday, they drove through downtown Washington D.C.

The convoy tried to hold a rally at the National Mall, but they were denied their request by the National Park Service. The convoy was also in contact with Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin).

Article by Ian Darville