Critics of former President Donald Trump have long asserted that he was responsible for the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill.

Yet earlier this week, the former chief of the United States Capitol Police charged that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is deserving of blame. 

Former chief says Pelosi didn't want troops on Capitol Hill

According to The Washington Examiner, that allegation was leveled on Tuesday during an appearance by Steven A. Sund before the House Administration Oversight subcommittee.

Sund testified that he spoke with House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger on January 3, 2021, about calling in the National Guard.

The police chief recalled how Stenger advised him to speak with Maj. Gen. William Walker, who was in command of the National Guard in Washington, D.C.

However, Sund said that four months after the riot took place Stenger explained that Pelosi did not want soldiers deployed on Capitol Hill on January 6.

"They sent me nobody to help my men and women"

"I said, 'Mr. Stenger, you came up with that response fairly quickly for me to call Gen. Walker," the Times quoted Sund as telling committee members.

"And he told me Paul Irving had called him ahead of time and said, 'Sund came here asking for the National Guard. We’ve got to come up with another plan. Pelosi will never go for it.’ I was floored by him saying that," the law enforcement officer explained.

WATCH : House committee holds hearing on Capitol security and J6.

Former Capitol Police Chief Steve Sund says his requests for the National Guard were denied several times.
Pelosi immediately called for Sund to step down on Jan. 7.

"It sure as hell would have been great to… pic.twitter.com/ouHDpj5ase

— Stella Escobedo (@StellaEscoTV) September 19, 2023

Stenger also said, "The National Guard, who is only two miles away from our headquarters, you know, sat and waited for the evening crew to come in while the Pentagon was still sending resources to protect generals' homes, they sent me nobody to help my men and women."

Pelosi demanded that Sund step down

Fox News reported that former President Donald Trump expressed a similar message during an interview with NBC host NBC.

"She has authority over the Capitol. National Guard not coming? I asked her [for them] to be there three days in advance, and she turned it down," Trump said.

USA Today reported in 2021 that Pelosi put out a statement calling for Sund to step down immediately following the riot on January 6.

"Many of our Capitol Police just acted so bravely and with such concern for the staff, the members, for the Capitol ... and they deserve our gratitude. But there was a failure at the top of the Capitol Police," she declared.