Cruz Focused On Pelosi’s Rejection Of Troops Ahead Of J6

A newly surfaced video clip shows Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) highlighting former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to reject an offer for thousands of National Guard troops ahead of then-President Donald Trump’s speech in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. This occurred during Kash Patel’s confirmation hearings for the role of FBI director.

As reported by Legal Insurrection, Patel was serving as chief of staff to then-acting Secretary of Defense Christopher C. Miller at the time of the Capitol riot. In this position, Patel had direct insight into the government’s security measures in place that day.

During the confirmation hearing, Cruz questioned Patel about his actions on Jan. 6.

“On that day, specifically, responding to, preparing to mobilize and employ the National Guard once we got the lawful request from the local governing authority, which was the mayor of DC and the speaker of the House,” Patel stated.

Cruz then inquired, “Now, how many days in advance were you working to prepare the Department of Defense to help secure the Capitol on January 6?”

Patel responded, “Days in advance, Senator, we were in the Oval Office on an unrelated national security matter with the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and myself, and the President authorized up to 20,000 plus National Guard men and women to secure any security measures necessarily related to the capital. We were moving to the fullest extent of the law before the requisite request came from a local governing authority days ahead of time.”

Cruz pressed further, “While you were chief of staff at DOD, how many times did DOD approach Capitol Police and ask if they needed National Guard assistance?”

Patel answered, “I believe those letters are well-documented. Numerous instances, and [on] numerous of those instances, those requests were shut down.”

Cruz continued, “Now, am I correct that the Capitol Sergeant at Arms said assistance was unnecessary?”

“That’s correct, Senator,” Patel confirmed.

“Who did the Sergeant at Arms report to?” Cruz asked.

“The speaker of the House,” Patel replied.

“That would have been Nancy Pelosi at the time. Is that correct?” Cruz asked.

“Yes, Senator.”

Cruz then asked whether then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also had oversight.

“The Sergeant at Arms, yes, Senator, reports up there,” Patel clarified.

The Texas senator then questioned Patel about Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s role in the decision.

“Did Mayor [Muriel] Bowser, the Democrat elected mayor in DC, either request or allow National Guard assistance?” Cruz asked.

Patel pointed out that Bowser had “put in writing on the days leading up to January 6th, a declination for National Guard additional support, and that letter is available publicly to the world.”

Cruz sought further clarification: “Just to speak English for folks at home, a declination meant she said, no, don’t send National Guard. Is that right?”

“Yes sir,” Patel confirmed.

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Patel’s testimony aligns with statements made by former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund and then-President Trump regarding Pelosi’s involvement in security decisions leading up to Jan. 6.

During his testimony before a House committee, Sund stated that three days prior to the Capitol riot, U.S. House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving rejected Sund’s request for National Guard deployment. According to Sund, Irving explained that Pelosi “would never go for it,” as reported by The Epoch Times in October 2023.

Sund’s remarks were made before the House Oversight Committee in a 90-minute hearing, marking his first testimony before a House panel since his resignation two days after the riot. Notably, he was not invited to testify before the Jan. 6 Committee, which was selected by Pelosi.

Sund expressed frustration over the National Guard refusal, stating their presence could have been a “game-changer.”