‘Shut Up!’ Pelosi Melts Down On Reporter Who Challenged Her

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., erupted Thursday after Lindell TV reporter Alison Steinberg confronted her on Capitol Hill with questions about the National Guard response during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The tense exchange quickly turned combative as Steinberg pressed Pelosi on why the National Guard was allegedly turned away before or during the unrest at the Capitol.

Steinberg referenced a previous encounter in which Pelosi told her to “shut up” after being questioned about the same issue. Pelosi responded by again accusing the reporter of spreading false claims.

The exchange unfolded as follows:

STEINBERG: Last time I asked you about January 6, why you turned the National Guard away on January 6, you told me to shut up and that I was repeating Republican talking points.

PELOSI: And I’ll tell you to shut up again because you’re speaking lies, and I don’t have anything to do with it.

STEINBERG: You’re here, right here, on record saying, “I’ll admit it.”

PELOSI: No, I did not admit it. The president never sent– would agree to send the National Guard. Don’t waste your time or mine on you.

STEINBERG: Why was your daughter filming you on January 6?

PELOSI: Why don’t you get away?

STEINBERG: These are just questions the American people want answers to–

PELOSI: You know what, I don’t even think you’re a real journalist. You work for Mike, pillow man?

STEINBERG: Actually, I do, and we’re very proud–

PELOSI: Yeah, I don’t consider that journalism. Mike the pillow man, that’s not journalism. I don’t have any reason to talk to you.

STEINBERG: He’d love to give you a free pillow.

PELOSI: You should record this. I want people to know that you’re not a real journalist. You work for Mike the pillow man, and all you do is spout untruths. Get away from me.

STEINBERG: You can insult me all you want, but–

PELOSI: Get away from me.

The confrontation renewed scrutiny over Pelosi’s long-disputed role in the security failures surrounding Jan. 6, particularly after former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund publicly challenged her version of events last summer.

Pelosi had attacked President Donald J. Trump after he announced a federal crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., including taking control of the Metropolitan Police Department and activating the D.C. National Guard.

“Donald Trump delayed deploying the National Guard on January 6th when our Capitol was under violent attack and lives were at stake,” Pelosi fumed.

“Now, he’s activating the D.C. Guard to distract from his incompetent mishandling of tariffs, health care, education and immigration — just to name a few blunders,” she claimed.

But Sund, who served as Capitol Police chief during the Jan. 6 riot and later resigned, pushed back sharply.

“Ma’am, it is long past time to be honest with the American people,” Sund said in a scathing statement.

Sund said he requested National Guard support on Jan. 3, 2021, three days before the riot, but that the request was rejected by Pelosi’s own Sergeant at Arms.

“Under federal law (2 U.S.C. §1970), I was prohibited from calling them in without specific approval,” Sund explained.

“That same day, Carol Corbin at the Pentagon offered National Guard support, but I was forced to decline because I lacked the legal authority,” he added.

Sund said he again urgently requested National Guard assistance as the Capitol descended into chaos on Jan. 6, but was delayed for more than an hour.

“While the Capitol was under attack and despite my repeated calls, your Sergeant at Arms again denied my urgent requests for over 70 agonizing minutes, ‘running it up the chain’ for your approval,” Sund wrote.

He then accused Pelosi of applying a double standard.

“When I needed assistance, it was denied. Yet when it suited you, you ordered fencing topped with concertina wire and surrounded the Capitol with thousands of armed National Guard troops.”

For conservatives, Pelosi’s angry reaction to basic questions only fuels more skepticism about the official Jan. 6 narrative. Years later, Americans still have legitimate questions about who made security decisions, why National Guard support was not in place earlier and why Democratic leaders become so hostile when pressed for answers.

Instead of calmly addressing those questions, Pelosi lashed out at the reporter, attacked her employer and dismissed the inquiry as illegitimate.

That may play well inside Washington’s media bubble, but for millions of Americans, the issue remains simple: if there is nothing to hide, why not answer the questions?