Since the Democrat impeachment team backed away from questions and calling witnesses during the Senate trial, Republican committee leaders on Monday inquired with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., about the failure to protect the Capitol against trespassers on Jan. 6.
“The Speaker is responsible for all operational decisions made within the House,” Republican Reps. Jim Jordan, Rodney Davis, James Comer, and Devin Nunes wrote in a letter.
Before Congress convened on Jan. 6, Chief of the Capitol Police Steve Sund asked the Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving, who reports to Pelosi, for permission to activate the National Guard.
Irving denied the request, stating that neither the “optics” nor preliminary reports about potential violence justified the activation.
“Did Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving get permission or instruction from your staff on January 4th prior to denying Chief Sund’s request for the national guard?,” the Republicans asked.
After Jan. 6, Pelosi fired Irving and forced Sund to resign without consulting House Republicans.
Pelosi then appointed retired General Russel Honoré to review the security procedures that led to the trespassers walking into the Capitol, while simultaneously ignoring “many calls from members, on both sides of the aisle, to conduct a full bipartisan and bicameral review.”
As the trespassers entered the Capitol, Sund again requested the activation of the National Guard.
“It took over an hour for his request to be approved because the SAA had to run the request up the chain of command, which undoubtedly included you and your designees,” the Republicans wrote.
“What conversations did you have during the attack on the Capitol and what response did you give security officials on January 6th when Chief Sund requested National Guard support that required your approval?,” they asked.
Following the breach into the Capitol, Pelosi installed metal detectors to patrol the activities of House members, even though she has “failed to comply with this requirement.”
As investigations continue, Pelosi refuses to provide documents about the security decisions leading up to Jan. 6.
“End this political charade, and work with us to protect the Capitol and those who work here every day,” Comer, Davis, Jordan, and Nunes wrote.
