Pelosi Denounces Trump for Capitol Attack: “He’s Got to Pay a Price”
Newly released footage from January 7, 2021, reveals former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s strong condemnation of Donald Trump in the aftermath of the January 6 Capitol riot. In the video, Pelosi, speaking just one day after the attack, stated that Trump “has to pay a price” for the violence that unfolded.
Footage Released Amid Republican Probe
The previously unreleased video, shot by Pelosi’s daughter Alexandra for an HBO documentary, was provided to the Republican-led House Committee on Administration this week. The committee is conducting a probe aimed at challenging the findings of the January 6 select committee. Alexandra Pelosi, an established filmmaker, has produced multiple documentaries for HBO, including a 2022 film about her mother.
🚨BREAKING: Never before seen footage of Pelosi on January 6 filmed by her daughter shows her admitting that its her fault that the Capitol wasn’t secure.
“We’re calling the National Guard now? They should have been here to start out.”
“We have totally failed. We need to take… pic.twitter.com/OZQ2lUXU2M
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) August 28, 2024
Pelosi’s Focus on Trump Over Capitol Police
The footage captures Pelosi during a phone conversation with her top aide, Drew Hammill, as she traveled to the Capitol on January 7. Hammill was reading a draft of Pelosi’s opening remarks, which included a call for Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund to resign. However, Pelosi interrupted, emphasizing that her focus should remain on Trump, not the police chief. “I think our focus has to be on the president. Let’s not divert ourselves,” she insisted.
Expressing her disgust over the attack, Pelosi added, “I just feel sick about what he did to the Capitol and the country today. He’s got to pay a price for that.” When Hammill mentioned that the press was focusing on the police chief, Pelosi maintained that the chief’s resignation should not be equated with the severity of the insurrection and Trump’s actions.
Evacuation and Criticism of Security Failures
The footage also provides an intimate look at the chaotic moments following Pelosi’s evacuation from the House floor by Capitol Police. Alexandra captured the then-Speaker as she walked swiftly through Capitol tunnels to her waiting SUV. HBO admitted that the 10-minute video of the evacuation had been edited to remove off-color remarks made by Pelosi’s young grandson, who accompanied her.
As Pelosi headed to her vehicle, she questioned whether Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had approved a request for the National Guard’s deployment. After being informed that the Capitol had already been breached, Pelosi expressed frustration over the delayed response and the failure to anticipate the scale of violence. “How many times did the members ask, ‘Are we prepared? Are we prepared?’ We’re not prepared for the worst,” she remarked.
Pelosi reportedly “scolded security officials for forcing her evacuation” and was visibly angry with Capitol security for not anticipating the attack. She confided in her chief of staff, Terri McCullough, saying, “I feel responsible,” and called the situation “ridiculous.”
