Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund publicly criticized former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after she condemned Donald Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to Los Angeles amid riots. Pelosi accused Trump of overstepping constitutional authority and contrasted it with his alleged inaction during the January 6 Capitol riot.
Sund responded on social media, stating he made 11 urgent calls for National Guard support on Jan. 6, but approval was delayed by Pelosi’s appointee, the House Sergeant at Arms. Sund said Pelosi is shifting blame despite her role in those delays. Official timelines confirm Sund’s version, noting 340 Guardsmen had already been activated for crowd control that day. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser initially opposed a strong Guard presence due to prior incidents but later requested help after law enforcement was overwhelmed. Acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller then activated 1,100 more troops. Sund’s remarks reignite debate over leadership accountability during the Capitol breach and highlight tensions surrounding federal troop deployments in civil unrest.
