Former U.S. Capitol Police chief Steven Sund publicly rebutted former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after she accused President Donald Trump of having “delayed” deployment of the National Guard during the Jan. 6 2021 Capitol riot. Pelosi’s criticism followed Trump’s Aug. 11 order to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department and send 800 National Guard troops to Washington under Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, a move the White House said was needed to curb violent crime. In a detailed statement, Sund said he first sought Guard support on Jan. 3 2021, three days before the riot, but that the House Sergeant at Arms—who reported to Pelosi—denied the request. He added that federal law (2 U.S.C. §1970) barred him from unilaterally calling in troops. While the Capitol was under attack on Jan. 6, Sund said he made 11 urgent calls seeking assistance, but approval was withheld for more than 70 minutes. Sund argued that Pelosi later authorized thousands of Guard members and erected concertina-wire fencing around the Capitol once the violence had subsided, contrasting that decision with the earlier refusals. His remarks revive a long-running partisan dispute over security failures on Jan. 6 and Pelosi’s role in vetting Guard requests. Pelosi has not responded to Sund’s new allegations. Video footage released by HBO in 2024 showed her acknowledging that congressional leaders should have arranged for the Guard “to start out,” but she has continued to blame Trump for the day’s delayed response. The White House said it expects the current deployment to remain until District crime metrics improve.