The Air Force inspector general is investigating the use of RC-26 reconnaissance planes to monitor the protests in response to the killing of George Floyd at the beginning of June.
The investigation will probe the Air National Guard's use of its RC-26 craft to monitor protests in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. after criticism from members of Congress, the New York Times first reported on Thursday. Congress requested information regarding who authorized the craft and what the specific orders were.
“Following discussions with the Secretary of Defense (Mark Esper) about shared concerns, the Secretary of the Air Force (Barbara Barrett) is conducting an investigation into the use of Air National Guard RC-26 aircraft to support civil authorities during recent protest activity in U.S. cities,” Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek told Army Times Thursday.
Flight patterns tweeted by Democratic Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy show an RC-26 craft circling D.C. the night of June 3.
"Very troubling. I have questions," Murphy tweeted.
That tweet, according to Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., led to the planes being grounded by Lt. Gen. Scott Rice, director of the Air National Guard, when they were "protecting infrastructure, Army Guardsmen and protesters."
The Air National Guard operates 11 RC-26 generally used for counter-narcotics and border operations.
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