Questions about the involvement of the National Guard during the Capitol Hill demonstration on January 6, 2021, have resurfaced as a result of recently leaked footage featuring Nancy Pelosi questioning her own role in the events leading up to the protest. Pelosi argues that she should have better prepared for the potential presence of the National Guard.
On January 6, 2021, as chief of staff for the Department of Defense, my responsibility was to ensure that our laws and the military chain of command were upheld. President Trump had previously approved the deployment of the National Guard, but before it could be activated, local authorities must also request it. While D.C. Mayor Bowser and Capitol Police submitted this request, they did so well after the incident had unfolded. In response to the request, the Department of Defense mobilized the National Guard faster than during any other event since World War II.
I have provided testimony under oath that Pelosi and Bowser were responsible for not requesting the National Guard on January 6 after the deployment was constitutionally authorized by President Trump. Evidence of their refusal has been submitted to the January 6th Committee, but they chose not to include it in their official reports.
The recent leakage of footage shows Pelosi openly admitting to taking personal responsibility for not doing more during the Capitol Hill protest. She, Bowser, and Pelosi both filmed a movie on that day and concealed evidence vital to a congressional investigation. They exploited the January 6th events for political gain, distorted history, and lied to the general public.
The historical documentation of the January 6th Committee’s conduct must be recorded completely so that such manipulative practices are not repeated. Predictably, Pelosi’s committee employed subterfuge in their operations. They concealed evidence that absolved Trump from insurrection claims and information which demonstrated that the only delay in deploying the National Guard was due to then-Secretary of the Army, Ryan McCarthy, who abused the chain of command after the order had been given.
During his testimony, Trump’s ex-White House Deputy Chief of Staff Anthony Ornato claimed that Meadows inquired if Pelosi needed more National Guard members and mentioned the figure of 10,000. This testimony matches my original account and was also ignored until March 2022 by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, which suddenly made it public.
During my initial testimony to the Committee, I emphasized that “The authorization came in beforehand… it was declined, and we acted when their request finally came in on January 6” and “Trump had authorized the deployment of 10,000 to 20,000 National Guard troops to support law enforcement.”
This avoidance of their duties by certain individuals represents constitutional fraud in order to achieve partisan goals. The Deep State has taken advantage of the January 6 event to smear Trump’s supporters and undermine democracy. They rely on illegal surveillance and baseless impeachments to suppress opposing voices. The corporate media’s collusion with these tactics erodes public trust, perpetuates misinformation, and denies the truth.
The implications of these events are not just about individual accountability; they revolve around the future of our democracy and the preservation of our civil liberties. The stakes are incredibly high, and the public has a right to the truth.
