Cruz Hones On Pelosi’s Rejection Of Troops Ahead Of J6 During Hearing

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) centered much of his attention on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision to turn down a proposal for deploying thousands of National Guard troops prior to then-President Donald Trump’s speech in Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021. This focus came during the confirmation hearing for Kash Patel, who was being considered for the role of FBI director.

According to Legal Insurrection, Patel held the position of chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Christopher C. Miller when the events at the Capitol unfolded. In that role, Patel had first-hand insight into the federal government’s security planning and preparations on that day.

During the hearing, Cruz asked Patel directly what his duties were on January 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 explained.

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

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

Cruz asked for further clarification: “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 next.

“The speaker of the House,” Patel stated.

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

“Yes, Senator,” Patel replied.

Cruz also inquired if the Sergeant at Arms had any reporting responsibility to then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

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

Cruz shifted focus to Washington, D.C.’s mayor: “Did Mayor [Muriel] Bowser, the Democrat elected mayor in DC, either request or allow National Guard assistance?”

Patel confirmed, noting that Bowser “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.”

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

“Yes sir,” Patel replied.

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Patel’s remarks align with statements made by both former President Trump and the former Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police regarding Pelosi’s refusal to boost security at the Capitol ahead of January 6.

In testimony given to a House committee, former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund recalled that, three days before the Capitol unrest, House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving denied his request to deploy several hundred National Guard troops. Irving reportedly said that then-Speaker Pelosi “would never go for it,” according to an October 2023 report by The Epoch Times.

Sund offered this account while testifying before the House Oversight Committee during a 90-minute hearing. That appearance marked his first testimony before a House committee after being pressured to resign just two days after the riot. Notably, Sund was never called to testify before the January 6 Select Committee, which Pelosi herself appointed, according to the outlet.

Sund expressed frustration over the refusal to accept the Guard’s help, stating that their presence would have been a “game-changer” in preventing the chaos that followed.