On Wednesday, former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund publicly criticized former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after she condemned Donald Trump’s deployment of federal troops to Los Angeles during ongoing riots. Trump had ordered up to 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 U.S. Marines to restore order amid violence tied to ICE-related arrests. Pelosi accused Trump of acting unconstitutionally, contrasting his decision with his alleged inaction during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. She claimed that Congress had pleaded for the National Guard that day, but Trump failed to respond.

Sund disputed this version of events, stating he made 11 urgent calls for National Guard support on January 6, beginning at 12:58 PM, but was delayed for 71 minutes by the House Sergeant at Arms, who reported directly to Pelosi. He asserted that Pelosi’s team was responsible for critical delays and is now unfairly blaming Trump. His account was supported by the National Guard’s official timeline and confirmed by the Defense Department, which noted that 340 Guardsmen had been activated prior to the riot for support duties. Additionally, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who initially opposed a larger National Guard presence due to Trump’s prior use of troops during the George Floyd protests, later requested more assistance as the situation worsened. The Defense Department reported that 1,100 additional Guardsmen were deployed in response.