Federalbrief
Dec 12, 2025

Former Capitol Police Chief Delivers Devastating Public Rebuke to Pelosi Over January 6 Claims yyy

A dramatic public confrontation has erupted between two high-profile figures linked to the January 6 Capitol riot, revealing new details about the security failures that preceded one of the most shocking days in modern American political history. The exchange has reignited debates over responsibility, leadership breakdowns, and the complex chain of decisions that left the U.S. Capitol vulnerable.

Trump’s D.C. Crackdown Rekindles Old Tensions

The dispute began after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized President Trump’s new federal security initiative in Washington, D.C., which places the Metropolitan Police Department under federal authority and activates the D.C. National Guard for street patrols.

Pelosi linked Trump’s actions directly to January 6, accusing him of delaying National Guard deployment while the Capitol was under attack in 2021. She argued that his current crackdown is a political distraction from other domestic issues such as tariffs, healthcare, and immigration.

However, these remarks quickly backfired when someone with intimate knowledge of January 6 security preparations entered the debate.

Steven Sund Responds: A Detailed and Forceful Rebuttal

Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund — the official responsible for security on January 6 — issued a swift and detailed statement rebutting Pelosi’s claims.

According to Sund:

  • On January 3, 2021, he formally requested National Guard assistance, three days before the riot.

  • His request, he said, was denied by the House Sergeant at Arms, an office that operated under Pelosi’s authority at the time.

  • Sund emphasized that he had no legal authority to independently deploy the National Guard, citing the federal laws governing such decisions.

He also stated that Pentagon officials offered support on January 3, but he could not accept without proper congressional approval.

The Chaos of January 6

As violence escalated on January 6, Sund said he made repeated urgent requests for Guard support but encountered a delay of more than 70 minutes, as the House Sergeant at Arms “ran the request up the chain.”

He argued that this delay worsened an already dangerous situation, putting both law enforcement and members of Congress at greater risk.

Accusations of Post–January 6 Double Standards

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