Former Capitol Police Chief claims National Guard was denied on Jan. 6 due to Pelosi’s opposition.
Capitol Police Chief Testifies: House Speaker Pelosi Rejected National Guard Help Before Jan. 6
Just three days before the January 6th Capitol riot, Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund’s request for National Guard assistance was rejected by House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving. Sund revealed this during a recent hearing before the Committee on House Administration’s Subcommittee on Oversight.
Sund’s testimony shed light on the frustration he felt when his plea for National Guard support, which he believed would have been a “game changer,” was denied. He detailed his interactions with Irving and Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger on January 3rd, where he requested approval for National Guard soldiers to secure the Capitol on January 6th.
During his meeting with Irving, Sund proposed bringing in the National Guard to assist with perimeter security during the joint session of Congress. However, Irving’s response was discouraging. Sund recalled, “His first response was: ‘I don’t know. I don’t like the optics of that.’ And his second response was: ‘Besides, the intelligence doesn’t support it.'”
Irving directed Sund to discuss the matter with Stenger, who suggested reaching out to the Pentagon to assess the Guard’s availability in case of an emergency. Sund made the call that evening and received a positive response from Army Gen. William Walker.
However, Sund later discovered that Irving had tipped off Stenger about his request for the National Guard, expressing doubts that Pelosi would approve. Sund was shocked by this revelation and expressed his disbelief during the hearing.
Sund’s testimony aligns with former President Donald Trump’s recent statement, blaming Pelosi for rejecting 10,000 National Guard troops before January 6th. Trump emphasized that both the mayor of Washington, D.C., and Pelosi turned down his offer.
Despite Sund’s efforts to secure assistance, it took 71 minutes to receive approval for the National Guard’s deployment. Sund made numerous calls during this time, desperately seeking approval and coordination. Even after the approval, the Pentagon provided little cooperation, delaying the Guard’s arrival until after the violence had subsided.
Sund’s frustration over the delayed response and lack of support from the Pentagon was evident during the hearing. He described the situation as “indefensible” and “unfathomable.”
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Who should be held accountable for the lapses in security that occurred on January 6th, and how can we ensure the safety of our democratic institutions in the future
Ted sending an email to coordinate a meeting. But when Sund reached out to Stenger, he received no response. Sund expressed his frustration at the lack of urgency and the failure to take action despite the intelligence available.
Moreover, Sund stated that he believes the decision to reject the National Guard assistance was influenced by concerns about the “optics” and how it might be perceived by the public. He emphasized that the priority should have been the safety and security of the Capitol and everyone inside.
It is worth noting that the Capitol Police had requested National Guard support ahead of other significant events, such as the Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020 and the Million MAGA March in November 2020. In both instances, the National Guard was deployed to assist with crowd control and to ensure the safety of the Capitol.
However, the denial of assistance on January 6th had devastating consequences. The Capitol was breached by violent rioters, leading to multiple injuries and deaths, including the death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick. The incident not only posed a threat to the lives of lawmakers and law enforcement officers but also to the democratic process itself.
During the hearing, Sund also revealed that he had requested additional support from the Department of Defense as the situation escalated. However, he faced further delays and obstacles in receiving assistance. Sund criticized the inadequate and slow response, stating, “No civilian law enforcement agency to include U.S. Capitol Police is trained or equipped to repel an insurrection of thousands of individuals focused on breaching a building at all costs.”
The events of January 6th exposed significant flaws in the security measures and response protocols at the Capitol. The failure to heed the warning signs and take necessary precautions resulted in a violent attack that shook the nation. It is crucial that these shortcomings be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate actions be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
The testimony of Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund underscores the importance of prioritizing security above all else and acting promptly upon credible intelligence. The decisions made by House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger raise questions about their judgment and the factors that influenced their denial of assistance.
As the investigation into the January 6th attack continues, it is essential to hold those responsible for the lapses in security accountable. The safeguarding of the Capitol and the protection of its occupants should always be the top priority, regardless of the political climate or optics. Only by learning from these mistakes can we ensure the safety and integrity of our democratic institutions.
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