Former Capitol Police Chief Challenges Pelosi’s Account of January 6 Security Decisions
Former Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund has publicly challenged Nancy Pelosi’s account of the National Guard deployment during the January 6th riot. He released a timeline contradicting the former Speaker’s assertions about her office’s role in the security response.
Sund stated that his urgent requests for National Guard assistance were repeatedly denied by the Speaker’s Sergeant at Arms. He specified that during the attack, his requests were delayed for over 70 minutes while awaiting approval from Pelosi’s office.
This dispute was ignited after a reporter questioned Pelosi about her role in the delayed response. Pelosi reacted strongly, telling the reporter to “shut up” and denying she refused the Guard. She instead placed the blame on former President Donald Trump.
Sund emphasized that the Pentagon had offered immediate support. However, he lacked the legal authority to accept it without authorization from congressional leadership, as required by federal law.
The conflicting narratives highlight the bureaucratic and procedural challenges that hampered the emergency response. The situation involved overlapping chains of command between the Capitol Police, congressional authorities, and the Pentagon.
This public disagreement has reignited debates over accountability for the security failures on January 6th. It underscores the ongoing struggle to establish a definitive historical record of that day.
Sund’s detailed account adds a critical perspective to the chronology of events. It raises significant questions about the communication and decision-making processes within congressional leadership during the crisis.
