Former Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund has publicly refuted former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s recent claims regarding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Sund released a detailed timeline alleging that Pelosi’s office obstructed efforts to deploy the National Guard. His statement followed a heated exchange between Pelosi and Lindell TV reporter Alison Steinberg, where Pelosi denied rejecting National Guard assistance and shifted blame to then-President Donald Trump.
In a rebuttal posted on X, Sund directly challenged Pelosi’s version of events. He stated that her appointed Sergeant at Arms, Paul Irving, repeatedly denied his requests for National Guard support both before and during the riot. According to Sund, Irving cited concerns over “optics” and withheld approval until 2:08 p.m. on January 6—more than 70 minutes after Sund’s urgent appeals began.
Sund emphasized that under federal law, he lacked the authority to independently deploy the National Guard without approval from congressional leadership. His timeline, backed by congressional testimony and footage released by the House Oversight Committee, shows repeated and escalating requests for support that went unanswered as the violence intensified. Notably, Pelosi was recorded in June 2024 saying, “I take responsibility,” a statement that appears to contradict her recent denials.
Additional reports suggest that both Pelosi and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser rejected National Guard deployments ahead of the riot due to political concerns, despite intelligence warnings. The FBI, under Director Christopher Wray, also allegedly withheld critical threat information from the Trump administration, further complicating the response.
Sund’s renewed statements have reignited scrutiny of Pelosi’s handling of Capitol security, with critics claiming the delays may have contributed to the chaos, injuries, and deaths that occurred. Calls for accountability continue to grow, especially with the new January 6 Committee now reexamining the events. Pelosi’s office has not yet responded to Sund’s latest allegations.
