Fact Check: Did Nancy Pelosi request national guard on Jan 6th

Fact Check: Did Nancy Pelosi Request National Guard on Jan 6th?

What We Know

On January 6, 2021, a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol during the certification of the Electoral College results. In the aftermath, various claims emerged regarding the response to the insurrection, particularly concerning the National Guard's deployment. Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund stated that he made multiple requests for National Guard assistance, which were denied by his superiors, including the House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving, who was reportedly concerned about the "optics" of having the National Guard present (NPR).

Moreover, it has been reported that both Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called for military assistance as the situation escalated, contradicting claims that Pelosi blocked the National Guard from responding (AP News). In fact, Pelosi's office indicated that she had approved a request for National Guard support, but the deployment was delayed (Politifact).

Analysis

The claim that Nancy Pelosi requested the National Guard on January 6 is nuanced. While Pelosi did not have direct authority to deploy the National Guard, she did advocate for military assistance during the crisis. According to reports, she and Schumer made calls for help, but the response was hindered by bureaucratic delays and concerns about the political implications of such a deployment (AP News, Politifact).

The narrative that Pelosi is solely responsible for the lack of National Guard presence has been challenged by various sources. For instance, Sund's assertion that his requests were denied points to a broader failure in communication and decision-making among security officials, rather than a singular action by Pelosi (NPR). Additionally, the recent release of footage where Pelosi acknowledges her responsibility for security failures does not explicitly state that she requested the National Guard, but it does highlight her role in the overall security oversight ([source-1]).

The reliability of the sources varies; while NPR and AP are established news organizations known for their journalistic standards, the claims made by partisan figures, such as Barry Loudermilk, may carry inherent biases aimed at shifting blame away from other officials involved in the security decisions on that day ([source-1], [source-2]).

Conclusion

The claim that Nancy Pelosi requested the National Guard on January 6th is Partially True. While she did advocate for military assistance during the crisis, she did not have the authority to unilaterally deploy the National Guard. The failures in security response were a result of multiple factors, including decisions made by other officials and the complex chain of command. Thus, while Pelosi played a role in the events of that day, the narrative that she alone is responsible for the lack of National Guard presence is misleading.

Fact Check: Did Nancy Pelosi request national guard on Jan 6th