Newly uncovered footage reviewed by Politico reveals the intense anger of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) during and immediately following the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The release of this footage comes two years after the public saw other clips showing Pelosi urgently calling for reinforcements as rioters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 election results.
“I just feel sick about what he did to the Capitol and the country today,” Pelosi says in the newly revealed footage, recorded in her SUV the day after the attack. “He’s got to pay a price for that.” Additional footage from the day of the attack shows Pelosi’s initial reluctance to evacuate, expressing her concern that leaving the Capitol could enable the rioters to achieve their goal. “If they stop the proceedings, they will have succeeded in stopping the validation of the presidency of the United States,” she stated.
In another clip, Pelosi is seen questioning how prepared the security forces were for such an event. She asked, “Are we prepared?” and continued, “We’re not prepared for the worst. We’re calling the National Guard, now? It should’ve been here to start out. I just don’t understand it. Why do we empower people this way by not being ready?”
This remark directly challenges former President Donald Trump’s repeated and false claim that he had offered National Guard troops to secure the Capitol, only to be turned down by Pelosi. It’s important to note that Pelosi, as Speaker of the House, had no authority over the deployment of the National Guard.
Further footage captures Pelosi in discussions with other congressional leaders, including Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), who speculated, “How quickly can Trump pardon them?” in reference to the rioters. While Trump did not issue pardons to any of the January 6 participants—hundreds of whom have since been convicted or taken plea deals—he has recently suggested that he might consider pardons if re-elected.
The newly surfaced footage offers a deeper insight into Pelosi’s mindset during the crisis, highlighting her determination to hold those responsible accountable and her frustration over the inadequate preparations to defend the Capitol.