While Democrats were preparing to vote on an article to impeach the outgoing US President Donald Trump for "inciting" the January 6 riots at the Capitol, dozens of National Guard officers gathered inside the government building to protect lawmakers.
Check out Sputnik's gallery to find out why guarding the Capitol was not an average day's work for the servicemen.
© AP Photo / Manuel Balce CenetaRep. Vicky Hartzler and Rep. Michael Waltz hand pizzas to members of the National Guard gathered at the Capitol Visitor Centre, 13 January 2021 in Washington, DC.
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© AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta
Rep. Vicky Hartzler and Rep. Michael Waltz hand pizzas to members of the National Guard gathered at the Capitol Visitor Centre, 13 January 2021 in Washington, DC.
© REUTERS / Brandon BellA member of the National Guard mounts guard near the U.S. Capitol building, as the House of Representatives debates impeaching U.S. President Donald Trump a week after his supporters stormed the Capitol building in Washington, 13 January 2021.
A member of the National Guard mounts guard near the U.S. Capitol building, as the House of Representatives debates impeaching U.S. President Donald Trump a week after his supporters stormed the Capitol building in Washington, 13 January 2021.
© REUTERS / Joshua RobertsNational Guard members sleep before Democrats start debating the article of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, 13 January 2021.
National Guard members sleep before Democrats start debating the article of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, 13 January 2021.
© REUTERS / Joshua RobertsU.S. Rep. Brian Mast leads a tour for members of the National Guard as Democrats debate one article of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, 13 January 2021.
U.S. Rep. Brian Mast leads a tour for members of the National Guard as Democrats debate one article of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, 13 January 2021.
© Sputnik / Artur Gabdrahmanov / Go to the mediabankNational Guard officers wait outside the US Capitol building in Washington, DC.
National Guard officers wait outside the US Capitol building in Washington, DC.
© AFP 2023 / Stefani Reynolds/Getty ImagesA member of the National Guard pushes a colleague in a chair through the Visitor Center of the U.S. Capitol on 13 January 2021 in Washington, DC.
A member of the National Guard pushes a colleague in a chair through the Visitor Center of the U.S. Capitol on 13 January 2021 in Washington, DC.
© AP Photo / Andrew HarnikThe Dome of the Capitol building is visible as members of the National Guard stand in front of riot gear laid out on a field on Capitol Hill in Washington, 13 January 2021.
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© AP Photo / Andrew Harnik
The Dome of the Capitol building is visible as members of the National Guard stand in front of riot gear laid out on a field on Capitol Hill in Washington, 13 January 2021.
© REUTERS / Leah MillisMembers of the National Guard look at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington 13 January 2021.
Members of the National Guard look at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington 13 January 2021.
© REUTERS / Joshua Roberts National Guard members sleep in the Dirksen Senate Office Building before Democrats debate the article of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, 13 January 2021.
National Guard members sleep in the Dirksen Senate Office Building before Democrats debate the article of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, 13 January 2021.
© Sputnik / Artur Gabdrahmanov / Go to the mediabankMilitary vehicles and a police car parked not far from the US Capitol building.
Military vehicles and a police car parked not far from the US Capitol building.
© AP Photo / J. Scott ApplewhiteHundreds of National Guard troops inside the Capitol Visitor's Centre to reinforce security at the Capitol in Washington, 13 January 2021.
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© AP Photo / J. Scott Applewhite
Hundreds of National Guard troops inside the Capitol Visitor's Centre to reinforce security at the Capitol in Washington, 13 January 2021.
© REUTERS / Joshua Roberts A member of the National Guard is armed before Democrats debate the article of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, 13 January 2021.
A member of the National Guard is armed before Democrats debate the article of impeachment against U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, 13 January 2021.