Video shows Nancy Pelosi admitting that she "totally failed" to secure Capitol on January 6

By 
 August 29, 2024

For years, Republicans have alleged that then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was at fault for failing to prevent the January 6 riot on Capitol Hill.

While Democrats have long denied this was so, newly released video footage shows Pelosi admitting that her critics were right.

"We have totally failed"

According to the New York Post, the footage was recorded by Pelosi's daughter on the day of the riot as she and other lawmakers made their escape.

Made public by the Republican-led House Committee on Administration on Wednesday, it features an angry Pelosi lamenting the lack of security.

"We have totally failed. We have to take some responsibility for not holding the security accountable for what could have happened," she could be heard saying at one point.

"Oh my god, I cannot believe the stupidity of this," the long-time California Democrat declared before adding, "And I take the full responsibility."

"We're not prepared"

"How many times did the members ask, 'Are we prepared? Are we prepared?'" Pelosi continued. "We're not prepared for the worst. We're calling the National Guard. Now? They should have been here to start out."

Pelosi later lashed out at chief of staff Terri McCullough, saying, "We have responsibility, Terri. We did not have any accountability for what was going on there, and we should have. This is ridiculous."

"You're gonna ask me in the middle of the thing, when they’ve already breached the inaugural stuff, 'Should we call the Capitol Police?' I mean the National Guard. Why weren’t the National Guard there to begin with?" she demanded.

"I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more"

While McCullough argued that the National Guard believed they had "sufficient resources," Pelosi was unimpressed by his response.

"It’s not a question of how they had … they don’t know!" she complained. "They clearly didn’t know, and I take responsibility for not having them just prepare for more."

For its part, the House committee touted Pelosi's admissions in a social media post, writing that she "spent over 3 years attempting to convince America that Donald Trump was responsible for the events of January 6."

"However, newly uncovered video footage recorded by Alexandria Pelosi shows the real story that Pelosi has been spending the past 3+ years trying to hide," it added.
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