As questions continue to swirl over the lack of security preceding and during the January 6 attack on the Capitol, Republicans, with the help of former President Donald Trump’s allies in the media, are attempting to deflect criticisms to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), suggesting that she is somehow responsible for the attack and intentionally withheld the National Guard from protecting the Capitol that day.
Recently, Pelosi announced a “9/11-style commission” to investigate the insurrection and security failures. Republicans responded by directly questioning whether Pelosi herself withheld security measures on January 6, possibly for the “political theater.”
Four GOP members of Congress have written a letter to Pelosi accusing her of personally delaying security on January 6 -- citing, in part, a letter written to Pelosi by former Capitol Hill Police Chief Steven Sund, who resigned on January 7 amid pressure following the security failures. In the letter, Sund makes the case that the intelligence community as a whole missed signs that there would be a coordinated attack on the Capitol and alleges that his prior requests for the National Guard were rejected.
Republican lawmakers and conservative media have seized on this letter to suggest that Pelosi personally withheld security, rejected requests for the National Guard, and was solely responsible for security on January 6 as the speaker of the House. Pelosi oversaw Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving -- who reportedly rejected the requests for the National Guard and has since resigned -- but reports indicate Irving never spoke to Pelosi about the request. Pelosi is also not directly responsible for Capitol Police, as some Republicans and their media allies are suggesting.
Now, Republican lawmakers are rushing to right-wing media outlets to suggest that Pelosi may have endangered their lives by rejecting security measures, asking some variation of: “What did Pelosi know, and when did she know it?” Conservative media have in turn dutifully worked to boost these Republicans and disseminate the talking point throughout the right-wing social media ecosystem.
Ironically, though, these same figures have largely avoided criticizing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), who had the same degree of oversight over Irving’s sergeant-at-arms counterpart in the Senate.
Fox News
- Fox host Laura Ingraham hosted Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), who signed the letter to Pelosi’s office, to peddle suspicions about Pelosi’s role in the insurrection. Ingraham introduced the upcoming segment by rhetorically asking, “What was Nancy Pelosi's role in allowing the circumstances to exist that opened the door for the hideous January 6 riots?”
- Fox host Sean Hannity hosted Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz, who had just written a Fox column on 13 questions Pelosi needs to be asked about security. Chaffetz claimed that Pelosi has “been in charge for years. She hasn't learned how to protect herself, members of Congress, the Capitol complex. The National Guard was ready to go. Why didn't those things happen?”