Steven Sund Responds to Nancy Pelosi’s Criticism of January 6

Nancy Pelosi recently criticized former President Donald Trump, claiming he delayed the deployment of the National Guard during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. She argued that Trump was using the Guard now to distract from other issues, including tariffs, healthcare, education, and immigration.

However, former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, who resigned in the wake of the riot, provided a detailed account of the events, clarifying the chain of responsibility.

Requests for the National Guard

On January 3, 2021, Sund formally requested National Guard assistance for potential unrest during the certification of the Electoral College results. These requests were handled through the Capitol Police Board, which includes the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms. Sund has stated that he did not have unilateral authority to deploy the Guard without their approval or authorization from higher offices.

On January 6, Sund requested the Guard again as the riot unfolded, but deployment was delayed. Sund has noted that decisions were made by the Capitol Police Board and the Sergeant at Arms offices, not by Trump directly.

It is important to clarify: multiple fact-checks, including by the Associated Press, confirmed that Pelosi did not block National Guard deployment. Decisions regarding deployment involved multiple offices and were constrained by legal and procedural rules (AP Fact Check, 2021).

Pelosi’s Responsibility

While Pelosi did not have the authority to unilaterally deploy the Guard, she has acknowledged her leadership role in Capitol security. Footage for an HBO documentary shows Pelosi stating, “I take responsibility” for not having the National Guard present that day .

D.C. Security and Trump’s Crime Initiative

In August 2025, Trump announced a federal crime initiative in Washington, D.C., involving temporary oversight of the Metropolitan Police Department and the deployment of the D.C. National Guard. Trump framed this initiative as an effort to combat violent crime in the capital.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the plan as “unsettling and unprecedented” but stated she would comply with federal law. This action is separate from January 6 events and reflects current federal authority over D.C. public safety, not decisions made during the Capitol riot.