Ex-Capitol Police Chief Challenges Pelosi Over Jan 6 National Guard Claims

Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund strongly rebutted Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi's claims that President Donald Trump delayed deploying the National Guard during the January 6 Capitol riot. Pelosi accused Trump of using the recent activation of the D.C. National Guard to distract from his policy failures, while Sund clarified that he had requested National Guard assistance days before the riot, but Pelosi's Sergeant at Arms denied those requests due to legal constraints. Sund explained that under federal law, he lacked the authority to deploy the Guard without specific approval, which was withheld for over 70 minutes during the attack. He further criticized Pelosi for ordering heavy security measures like fencing and concertina wire after the fact, contrasting it with her earlier denial of assistance. Sund's detailed rebuttal highlighted that Pelosi's office controlled key approval channels, challenging her narrative blaming Trump for delays. President Trump also publicly criticized Pelosi's role in the Capitol security failure during a White House news conference following these exchanges.