Did Nancy Pelosi Refuse National Guard on January 6th?
January 6, 2021, will be remembered as a pivotal day in modern American history. The joint session of Congress convened to count and certify the electoral votes, and the proceedings were interrupted by a mob of protesters who stormed the Capitol Building, leaving five people dead and dozens injured.
The incident sparked widespread controversy, and many have sought to assign blame for the violence. One of the most widely discussed claims is that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi refused requests from Washington, D.C. officials and the military for National Guard assistance prior to the events of January 6. Is this claim accurate?
Contents
Context: Capitol Police Preparation
Prior to January 6, the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) had been briefed on the potential for protests and violence, but their plans and resources were focused on preventing riots and damage to the building, rather than responding to a violent assault. The USCP had already increased its force strength to over 500 officers and deployed additional tactical teams and units.
In a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Assistant Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief of Uniform Services, Raksha Bharj, testified that:
"We were preparing for potential unrest and potential violence on January 6, and we were prepared to handle it."
Table 1: USCP Forces Deployment
| Force Component | Strength |
|---|---|
| Full-time officers | 436 |
| Reserve officers | 154 |
| Officers from surrounding jurisdictions | 54 |
Source: House Appropriations Committee, Oversight Hearing (2021)
National Guard Request Timeline
It is essential to examine the timeline of requests and responses regarding National Guard assistance:
- 12:15 pm, January 5: The Assistant Commandant of the Capitol Police, Sergeant at Arms of the Senate (SAR) notified the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) about potential unrest and requested National Guard assistance.
- 10:30 pm, January 5: The Acting Commissioner of the MPD, Peter Newsham, met with Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller and the CJCS, who declined the request for National Guard support.
- 9:00 am, January 6: As protests began, the USCP and MPD requested further reinforcements, but this time specifically requesting the National Guard to secure the perimeter and maintain order.
Nancy Pelosi’s Response
Several reports suggest that Nancy Pelosi, as the Speaker of the House, refused or ignored requests for National Guard assistance. However, these claims are overly simplistic and inaccurate. Pelosi, through her office, denies these allegations:
"The allegations are not accurate. No request for National Guard troops was refused by Speaker Pelosi."
In reality, Pelosi did not have direct control over National Guard deployment. The Department of Defense, under President Trump, was responsible for providing National Guard forces to the DC authorities. It is misleading to suggest that Pelosi or her office could have authorized or denied requests for National Guard assistance.
Washington, D.C. Emergency Declaration
On January 4, Mayor of Washington, D.C., Muriel Bowser, issued an emergency declaration, activating the DC National Guard and allowing the Army Corps of Engineers to deploy resources. However, the declaration did not grant authority for the DC Guard to be deployed into the city’s streets to control protests. Instead, the DC Guard was positioned to support emergency services, provide crowd control, and secure infrastructure.
Aftermath and Findings
In the aftermath of January 6, several inquiries and investigations were launched to assess the response to the violent assault. Key findings include:
- The USCP, with limited resources and understaffed, was not prepared to respond to a large-scale violent assault.
- Communication breakdowns between federal agencies, local authorities, and the military hampered an effective response.
- There were severe inadequacies in planning, training, and preparedness for dealing with domestic terrorism.
In conclusion, Nancy Pelosi did not refuse requests for National Guard assistance. The narrative that she or her office was responsible for the National Guard’s deployment or lack thereof is a simplistic misconception. The responsibility for providing National Guard forces lay with the Department of Defense and President Trump. Ultimately, the failures in the response to January 6’s events were the result of multiple factors, including communication breakdowns, inadequate planning, and poor resource allocation.
Conclusion:
The events of January 6, 2021, were a national security failure, resulting from a combination of poor planning, inadequate resources, and miscommunication. Assigning blame to a single individual or entity is unnecessary and misguided. Instead, we must focus on ensuring that the U.S. Capitol is protected and secure for the people’s business.
