Following the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump on January 6th, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to Trump as a “domestic enemy” in previously unaired footage. In the video shot by her daughter, Pelosi can be seen being evacuated from the Capitol while urging her staff to get the National Guard to respond. She questioned why the National Guard wasn’t there to begin with and took responsibility for not pressing law enforcement officials harder on their preparations. Pelosi expressed skepticism about the motivations of the conservative-leaning law enforcement community and criticized their lack of anticipation for the attack.
Pelosi’s comments in the video were more explicit than her public statements, where she accused Trump of inciting an armed insurrection. She also expressed frustration about the lack of preparation for the attack and criticized the law enforcement response. The footage also showed Senator Dick Durbin making a quip about Trump potentially pardoning the rioters, a view that Trump himself now endorses.
Pelosi stated that there must be consequences for Trump’s actions and expressed disgust at what he had done to the Capitol and the country. The footage, turned over to Congress by HBO, provides insight into Pelosi’s thoughts and emotions during the chaotic events on January 6th. Ultimately, Pelosi and the Jan. 6 committee focused on Trump’s role in inciting the attack, rather than the law enforcement failures leading up to it.
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