Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing sharp pushback from Steven Sund, the former U.S. Capitol Police Chief, after she accused Donald Trump of delaying National Guard deployment during the January 6 riot. Pelosi criticized Trump for seizing federal control of D.C. security and failing to act quickly while violence unfolded at the Capitol.
Sund, however, has publicly rejected her claims. He explained that he formally requested National Guard assistance on January 3, 2021, but was denied by Pelosi’s own Sergeant at Arms. Under federal law, Sund stressed, he did not have the authority to call in troops without that approval. Even as the riot escalated, he said his urgent pleas for reinforcements were stalled for over an hour as the request was “run up the chain” to Pelosi.
Calling Pelosi’s stance hypocritical, Sund pointed out that she later ordered fencing and troops around the Capitol after the attack. His remarks have reignited debate over whether Trump or congressional leadership bears the greater responsibility for the security failures. The controversy has been further fueled by resurfaced CNN footage of Pelosi on January 6 saying she wanted to “punch Trump out,” undercutting her public claims of concern about the day’s violence.
The dispute has brought renewed focus on D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s earlier rejection of federal law enforcement aid, as well as Trump’s recent move to retake control of local security in a new anti-crime push. With both sides trading blame, Sund’s rebuttal ensures that the battle over who failed the Capitol on January 6 remains far from settled.
