Lines of trucks block the U.S.-Canada border during a demonstration in Coutts, Alberta, Canada, on Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022. Since Saturday, a blockade of some 100 trucks has been in place on the north side of the crossing between Alberta and Montana to protest vaccination mandates put in place this month for truck drivers going across the Canada-U.S. border, the Toronto Star reports. Photographer: Gavin John/Bloomberg via Getty Images
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.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.
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).
A panel of federal judges has struck down President Donald Trump's tariffs imposed on dozens…
President Donald Trump wants to personally visit Fort Knox, which holds the United States Bullion…
Despite two Republicans crossing the aisle to side with every Democrat voting no, President Donald…
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/XoYMPUgCLx4 During a town hall on May 30, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst (R) responded to…
Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. threatened to prohibit government scientists…
Elon Musk took to social media to criticize the Republican budget bill that recently passed…