Did Nancy Pelosi Turn Down the National Guard on January 6?
Background and Context
On January 6, 2021, the United States Capitol was attacked by a mob of Trump supporters who sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The attack left five people dead and hundreds injured. In the aftermath of the event, many have pointed to failed communication and preparedness among government agencies as a key factor in the inadequate response to the violence.
One claim that has garnered significant attention is that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi rejected an offer from the Department of Defense (DoD) to deploy National Guard troops to Washington D.C. to secure the Capitol Complex. But is this claim true?
What the Evidence Says
An analysis of available records and interviews with officials does not support the claim that Nancy Pelosi turned down the National Guard on January 6.
Email Chain Released
In July 2021, the Pentagon released an email chain showing that on January 4, 2021, DoD personnel asked the Speaker’s office to provide "further guidance" on whether they would accept the offer to deploy National Guard troops to the Capitol. There is no evidence to suggest that Speaker Pelosi rejected this offer or that the Pentagon’s offer was contingent on her approval.
Statement from DoD Spokesman
In an interview with NBC News, DoD Spokesman Jonathan Hoffman clarified that the National Guard was already mobilized and deploying to the capital on January 4, two days before the attack. Hoffman stated that the Department had informed the Capitol Police of their plans and was coordinating with the D.C. government and law enforcement agencies.
Timeline of Events
The following table illustrates the events leading up to the January 6 attack and the deployment of the National Guard:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| January 4, 2021 | DoD requests guidance from Speaker’s office on National Guard deployment |
| January 4, 2021 | National Guard mobilizes and begins deploying to Washington D.C. |
| January 6, 2021 | Pro-Trump mob storms the United States Capitol |
| January 6, 2021 | National Guard begins arriving at the Capitol, with the majority deploying that evening |
Why the Claim May Have Arisen
There are a few possible explanations for why this claim may have emerged. One theory is that it is a disinformation tactic aimed at damaging Nancy Pelosi’s reputation or influencing public opinion about the Capitol attack. Another possibility is that the claim may have originated from misinterpretation or incomplete information, potentially stemming from confusion around the sequence of events on January 6.
Conclusion
Based on available evidence, it appears that Nancy Pelosi did not turn down the National Guard on January 6. Instead, the Pentagon had already begun mobilizing and deploying the National Guard to the capital two days prior to the attack, and coordination was underway with Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies.
While communication breakdowns and other issues certainly contributed to the chaos surrounding the Capitol attack, this claim does not seem to be supported by the facts.
