Former Capitol Police Chief Challenges Pelosi’s Account of January 6 Guard Delays

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing renewed scrutiny over her role in the events surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot, following a forceful rebuttal from the man who was in charge of Capitol security that day.

Pelosi recently criticized former President Donald Trump for deploying the D.C. National Guard and taking direct control of the city’s police amid rising crime in the capital. Calling the move a distraction from his “failures on tariffs, health care, education, and immigration,” Pelosi took the opportunity to once again accuse Trump of delaying National Guard response on January 6.

But Steven Sund, who served as U.S. Capitol Police Chief during the 2021 riot, responded swiftly and sharply. In a detailed statement, Sund claimed Pelosi’s comments distort the facts — and that she and her team were directly involved in preventing an earlier Guard deployment.

“Ma’am, it is long past time to be honest with the American people,” Sund said in his rebuttal. He stated that he submitted a formal request for National Guard support on January 3, three days before the Capitol was overrun. However, according to Sund, that request was denied by the House Sergeant at Arms, who reported to Pelosi.

“At the time, federal law (2 U.S.C. §1970) prohibited me from deploying the Guard without direct approval,” Sund explained. “Even when Carol Corbin at the Pentagon offered help from the Guard, I had to decline because I wasn’t authorized to accept it.”

As the events of January 6 unfolded and the situation at the Capitol became critical, Sund said he made repeated calls for National Guard assistance — only to be stalled for more than an hour. “For 70 agonizing minutes, while the Capitol was under violent attack, my pleas were ignored while the Sergeant at Arms said they were ‘running it up the chain’ for your approval,” he said, directly addressing Pelosi.

Sund also pointed to the stark contrast between the denial of Guard support on January 6 and Pelosi’s later decision to fortify the Capitol with fencing, wire, and thousands of armed National Guard troops. “When I needed help, it was denied. But later, when it served a political purpose, you brought in a military presence without hesitation,” he charged.

The controversy deepens when viewed alongside footage from an HBO documentary, which shows Pelosi on January 6 saying she hoped Trump would come to the Capitol so she could “punch him out” and “go to jail… happy.” Her daughter, Alexandra Pelosi, captured the moment on camera, and it later aired on CNN.

Critics argue that Pelosi’s remarks in the video, combined with the denial of National Guard support, raise uncomfortable questions about the decision-making process that day.

Meanwhile, Trump’s new federal crime crackdown — which includes activating the D.C. National Guard — has reignited political tensions. Calling it “liberation day” for Washington, Trump said he is determined to “clean up” the city, describing it as overrun by “violent gangs and drugged-out maniacs.” Under the Home Rule Act, he now has 30 days of full authority over the Metropolitan Police Department.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that Guard troops from various states will soon be deployed to support local law enforcement. “They’ll serve as force multipliers, helping restore order in neighborhoods where crime has exploded,” Hegseth said.

While D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the move “unsettling and unprecedented,” she agreed to comply. Observers were quick to note that Bowser, like Pelosi, was among those who discouraged federal intervention before January 6. In a letter sent days before the riot, Bowser explicitly stated that the city did not want additional federal law enforcement involved.

That decision, in hindsight, has become a central part of the blame game over the Capitol breach. Democrats have long argued that Trump failed to act, while Trump allies counter that Congress — under Pelosi’s leadership — was responsible for security preparations and blocked early intervention efforts.

Adding to that defense, several reports — including testimony and internal memos — confirm that Trump had approved up to 10,000 National Guard troops days before January 6, anticipating possible unrest as Congress met to certify the election.

Now, with Trump back in the White House and wielding full control of the D.C. police and National Guard, the political battle over who is to blame for the Capitol riot is front and center again.

And with Steven Sund publicly breaking his silence, the narrative Pelosi has pushed for years is facing one of its strongest challenges yet.