Imagine a crisis unfolding at the heart of American democracy, and the cries for help are met with silence. On January 6, 2021, as chaos erupted at the U.S. Capitol, Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund claims he was left hanging, repeatedly denied the National Guard support he desperately needed. It’s a bombshell accusation that points fingers at former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and reignites debate over accountability for that infamous day.
According to Newsmax, on that dark day, supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, disrupting Congress as it certified the 2020 election results, clashing with police, and leaving a stain on our nation’s history.
More than 1,580 individuals have faced federal charges for their roles in the riot, with hundreds convicted and sentenced to prison terms. Yet, four years later, Trump, on his first day back in office, issued sweeping clemency to nearly all defendants and directed the Justice Department to drop remaining cases. It’s a move that has conservatives cheering for justice while others question the precedent it sets.
Let’s rewind to the heart of the storm: January 6, 2021, when the Capitol became a battleground. The attack halted the certification process, with violent confrontations between rioters and law enforcement unfolding in real time. Sund, who was at the helm of Capitol Police, found himself in a dire situation, pleading for backup.
According to Sund, he requested National Guard assistance nearly a dozen times during the crisis. Each time—10 out of 11—he was turned away, left to manage an escalating disaster with inadequate resources. It wasn’t until the 11th plea that approval finally came through, but by then, precious time had been lost.
For 71 agonizing minutes, Sund says he was stonewalled, with Pelosi’s sergeant at arms telling him the request was being “run up the chain.” That’s a long wait when every second counts, and it raises serious questions about who was calling the shots. Conservatives have long argued that bureaucratic delays and political posturing left our officers vulnerable.
Sund didn’t hold back in his recent Newsmax interview on Friday, laying the blame squarely at Pelosi’s feet. “It was her sergeant at arms that told me he was running it up the chain. And for 71 minutes on January 6th, I was repeatedly denied,” Sund stated, painting a picture of frustration and abandonment.
His words cut deep, suggesting a failure at the highest levels to prioritize safety over politics. While progressives might argue Pelosi wasn’t directly in control of troop deployment, Sund’s account of being denied 10 times before a green light smells like a dodge of responsibility. Sund also pointed out the sheer number of requests he made, saying, “I'd requested [the] National Guard almost a dozen times and was denied 10 of those times.” That’s not just a single oversight; it’s a pattern that demands answers. If a dozen pleas don’t signal urgency, what does?
Fast forward to Thursday, when a reporter confronted Pelosi with questions about her role in the National Guard delay and potential liability flagged by a new January 6 committee. Her reaction was anything but calm—she walked away, then spun around to snap at the journalist. It’s the kind of defensiveness that only fuels suspicion among those skeptical of the establishment.
Pelosi fired back, “Shut up. I did not refuse the National Guard. The president didn't send it,” shifting the blame while dismissing the query as partisan talking points. Her outburst might play well with her base, but to many on the right, it’s just another example of dodging accountability while pointing fingers elsewhere.
Sund, for his part, isn’t buying the deflection, suggesting Pelosi has some explaining to do about her involvement—or lack thereof—in preparing for the National Guard’s presence. The very night of the incident, he notes, she claimed responsibility for the absence of troops, yet now seems eager to rewrite the narrative. It’s a contradiction that doesn’t sit well with those who value straight talk over political spin.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Sund commented on reports of FBI agents positioned in the crowd outside the Capitol that day. He admitted it’s tough to confirm whether their presence was for legitimate surveillance or something else entirely. Still, he believes the new House committee on January 6 could dig deeper into these murky details.
For conservatives, this raises concerns about government overreach and whether federal agencies played a role in escalating tensions. While there’s no hard evidence of wrongdoing, the mere possibility keeps distrust of the deep state alive and well. Transparency, not conspiracy, should guide these inquiries.
As the dust continues to settle on January 6, Sund’s revelations and Pelosi’s heated denial keep the story very much alive. A new committee’s findings could either vindicate or condemn key players, but one thing is clear: the American people deserve clarity on why help was delayed when democracy itself was under siege. Until then, expect conservatives to keep pressing for answers, unwilling to let progressive narratives bury the truth.
