07/04/2023
Recent weeks have seen a resurgence of claims and speculation surrounding the events of January 6th, 2021, particularly concerning the actions and responsibilities of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Specifically, newly released video footage has been shared across social media platforms, with accompanying narratives suggesting that Pelosi bears blame for the delayed response of the National Guard to the U.S. Capitol attack. This article aims to dissect these claims, examine the evidence, and clarify the factual circumstances surrounding Speaker Pelosi's departure from the Capitol on that day.
On June 10th, Republicans on the House Administration’s Subcommittee on Oversight shared a short video clip on X (formerly Twitter) showing then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi leaving the Capitol by car amidst the ongoing riot on January 6th, 2021. In the clip, Pelosi is heard pressing her chief of staff, Terri McCullough, about the delayed arrival of the National Guard. The subcommittee’s accompanying post alleged that Pelosi had spent over three years and nearly $20 million crafting a narrative to blame Donald Trump, and that this new footage showed her admitting, "I take responsibility."
This footage quickly spread across various social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Many users re-shared the clip with the assertion that Pelosi was taking responsibility for the absence of the National Guard at the Capitol. These posts were subsequently flagged by Meta (for Facebook and Instagram) and identified by TikTok as part of their efforts to combat misinformation.
A key point of contention is Pelosi's statement, "I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more." It is crucial to understand that, in the context of the full video footage, this statement was made in reference to Capitol security and preparedness, not the deployment of the National Guard. Pelosi was expressing frustration about the overall security situation and the lack of anticipation for the scale of the events unfolding.
Furthermore, it is vital to clarify the lines of authority regarding the National Guard. As established by U.S. law, no member of Congress possesses the authority to activate the District of Columbia National Guard. This power is exclusively vested in the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the U.S. Army. Therefore, any claim that Pelosi could have directly deployed the National Guard is factually incorrect.
The Full Picture: Pelosi's Actions on January 6th
Newly released footage, obtained by the Oversight Subcommittee from HBO footage filmed by Alexandra Pelosi (Nancy Pelosi's daughter), offers a more comprehensive view of the events. Politico reported that this footage, totaling 45 minutes, includes previously unseen material. The subcommittee shared two versions of a scene depicting Pelosi leaving the Capitol by car.
The shorter, 41-second clip, which has been widely circulated, begins with Pelosi stating, "We have responsibility, Terri. We did not have any accountability for what was going on there, and we should have. This is ridiculous. You’re going to ask me in the middle of the thing — when they’ve already breached the inaugural stuff — ‘Should we call the Capitol Police?’ I mean, ‘the National Guard?’ Why weren’t the National Guard there to begin with?"
The longer, 1 minute and 28-second clip, described by the subcommittee as "the full video" of that particular scene, provides additional context. It begins with Pelosi discussing guidance from Capitol security officials regarding movement within the building. Crucially, after her statement about taking responsibility for not having "them just prepare for more," Pelosi continues, expressing incredulity at the situation and questioning the lack of anticipation. She states, "Because it’s stupid that we should be in a situation like this. Because they thought they had what? They thought these people would act civilized? They thought these people gave a damn? What is it that is missing here, in terms of anticipation? They give us a piece of paper. It says, ‘Walk through the tunnel, don’t walk outside.’ That’s our preparation for what’s going on?"
In response to the release of this footage, Pelosi herself stated in a June 10th MSNBC interview that former President Trump and his allies were attempting to engage in "revisionist history." Her spokesperson, Aaron Bennett, clarified that the entirety of the footage shows Pelosi actively calling Pentagon officials who had the authority to deploy the National Guard and urging them to do so. Bennett emphasized, "Cherry-picked, out-of-context clips do not change the fact that the Speaker of the House is not in charge of the security of the Capitol Complex — on January 6th or any other day of the week."
Pelosi's Role in National Guard Deployment
Records indicate that on January 6th, 2021, Pelosi approved a request from the then-House Sergeant-at-Arms, Paul Irving, to contact the Pentagon for National Guard support. This request was made approximately 30 minutes after rioters had breached the Capitol's barricades. Despite this approval, the deployment of National Guard troops was delayed for several hours due to approval processes within the Pentagon. This timeline underscores that Pelosi was actively seeking to bring in the National Guard, not hindering their deployment.
Furthermore, previously released footage and reports show Pelosi and then-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, after being evacuated from the Capitol, actively negotiating with government officials to expedite the deployment of the National Guard. MSNBC also aired clips of Pelosi and Schumer on the phone with then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, demanding to know why the National Guard had not yet been deployed. In one instance, Pelosi can be heard telling then-Vice President Mike Pence, "And we were disappointed that the fact that it took so long to approve the National Guard. But I’m glad to hear that that’s at least moving."
Fact-Checking the Claims
PolitiFact and other reputable news organizations have previously fact-checked claims regarding Pelosi's role on January 6th. The assertion that Pelosi was responsible for the delayed National Guard response is demonstrably false. As established, she lacked the authority to deploy the Guard, and evidence shows she was actively involved in requesting and urging their deployment.
The statement that Pelosi said, "I take responsibility for not having the National Guard" at the Capitol that day, while containing a partial truth regarding her words, is misleading. The full context reveals her statement was about overall security preparedness, and she explicitly stated she was not responsible for the National Guard's deployment, a responsibility that lay with executive branch officials.
Table: Key Facts vs. Misinformation
| Claim | Factual Basis | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Pelosi is to blame for the National Guard's delayed response. | Pelosi approved the request for National Guard support and urged their deployment. Authority to deploy rests with the executive branch. | False |
| Pelosi said, "I take responsibility for not having the National Guard." | Pelosi said, "I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more," referring to Capitol security. The full context clarifies her intent. | Misleading |
| Pelosi has the authority to activate the National Guard. | Only the President, Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of the U.S. Army have this authority. | False |
| The footage shows Pelosi admitting fault for the National Guard's absence. | The footage shows Pelosi expressing frustration about overall security and inquiring about the Guard's delayed arrival, while also actively seeking their deployment. | False |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Did Nancy Pelosi leave the Capitol by car on January 6th?
- Yes, newly released footage shows then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi leaving the Capitol by car during the events of January 6th, 2021.
- What was Nancy Pelosi discussing in the video footage?
- The footage shows her discussing Capitol security and inquiring about the delayed arrival of the National Guard with her chief of staff.
- Does Nancy Pelosi have the authority to deploy the National Guard?
- No, only the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of the U.S. Army have the authority to activate the District of Columbia National Guard.
- Was Nancy Pelosi responsible for the National Guard's delayed response?
- No, evidence indicates she approved the request for National Guard support and urged their deployment, while lacking the authority to command their presence.
- What did Nancy Pelosi mean when she said, "I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more"?
- In the full context of the footage, this statement referred to general Capitol security preparedness and the lack of anticipation for the unfolding events, not the specific deployment of the National Guard.
Conclusion
The dissemination of selectively edited video clips has unfortunately fuelled misinformation regarding Nancy Pelosi's actions on January 6th, 2021. A comprehensive review of the available footage and relevant facts demonstrates that Pelosi was not responsible for the delayed National Guard response. Instead, the evidence suggests she was actively seeking to address the security situation and was expressing frustration with the circumstances, as was her right and duty as Speaker. The claims that she bears blame for the National Guard's absence are unfounded and misrepresent the reality of her role and the legal authorities involved.
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