Throughout the video, Pelosi intends to resume the Congressional process of counting Electoral College votes for Joe Biden’s victory while showing the nation that the government was still working despite the siege. The video was recorded by a documentary team built into Pelosi and led by his daughter Alexandra.
Trump has often suggested that Pelosi didn’t do his job, that the Capitol breach was his fault, and that the lack of sufficient security to push back the crowd of his supporters was his responsibility — not the Commander-in-Chief’s. He falsely claimed that Pelosi rejected his order for 10,000 National Guard soldiers – something that never past. The former president, in a statement posted online Friday in response to the committee, wrote, “I have fully authorized” the deployment of National Guard troops, but, he added erroneously, the request was denied by officials responding to Pelosi.
“Nancy Pelosi and [D.C. Mayor] Muriel Bowser didn’t do her job, they didn’t like the look of the soldiers, and unfortunately your committee refuses to talk about it, because if they did, it would be clear that I did everything right, and that is not what the Committee wants to see,” Trump wrote.
Trump’s false claims have been picked up by Republican lawmakers, including some who – according to the newly released video – were literally in the bedroom when Pelosi and others were calling in reinforcements. On the evening of January 5, Trump made a casual comment to his acting Secretary of Defense about the need for thousands of troops in Washington the next day. The secretary told Trump he had to make the request officially, which Trump never did.
For Pelosi, the video was just the latest eye-catching display of his authority to Trump.
In February 2019, after Trump gave his State of the Union address, she gave a sarcastic applause that instantly became a legendary meme. This October, she slammed of a meeting in the Cabinet Room, but not before waving the finger at Trump and questioning his loyalty to the country. And moments after Trump delivered his 2020 State of the Union address, Pelosi stood up behind him and literally tore it to pieces.
Trump, needless to say, has sought to blame many of his problems on Pelosi.
His statement came after the House committee voted to subpoena him Thursday for records and testimony. He remains silent on whether he will comply or challenge the panel.
Here is a breakdown of the video:
Pelosi asks Congress to resume session that day
Pelosi, escorted through a hallway to security, said into her cell phone, “We have to get – finish the procedure or they’ll have a complete victory.” Later, in a safe place with staff, Pelosi said a key goal was to “maintain the feeling that people have that there is some security or some confidence that the government can work and that we can elect a President of the United States”.
Pelosi and others speak with the acting Secretary of Defense
Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (DN.Y.) huddle around a phone Schumer holds as ‘they speak with Christopher Miller, Acting Secretary of Defense.
Schumer told Miller, “We have senators who are still in hiding. They need massive staff now. Can you also bring in the Maryland National Guard? Pelosi then tells Miller that she’ll call the mayor “and see what other outreach she’s got.”
Pelosi speaks with Va. Govt. Ralph Northam, who sends help
Pelosi speaks on the phone with Virginia Governor Ralph Northam (D) asking him to send the Virginia National Guard to the district. She tells Northam that Hoyer also spoke with Maryland Governor Larry Hogan (right) about sending in National Guard troops.
Pelosi then tells Northam, “I still think you probably need the federal government’s approval to enter another jurisdiction.”
As Pelosi ends her call with Northam and hands the phone to an aide, Schumer says aloud, “Virginia Guard has been called.”
Pelosi then says Northam “sent 200 state troopers and a National Guard unit.”
Schumer calls on acting attorney general to push Trump to call off attack
Pelosi, speaking into a phone that Schumer is holding, tells Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen that the rioters are “breaking the windows and coming in, evidently trashing our offices and everything else.” She said, “It’s nothing. The concern we have about personal harm… personal safety, transcends everything.
Schumer, clearly angry, steps in and says to Rosen, “Why don’t you ask the President to tell them to get off the Capitol, Mr. Attorney General, on your law enforcement responsibility.”
Trump would eventually release a video statement that day asking the rioters to leave, but reformulate the lie that he won the election.
Pelosi, Schumer and the Republicans speak with Pentagon officials.
Pelosi, Schumer and Hoyer stand in a circle and are joined by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Sen. John Thune (RS.D.).
Schumer asks the Department of Defense, “How soon in the future can you evacuate the place?” You know, cleaned? When the defense official is reluctant to give an estimate without knowing what officials see on the ground, Pelosi insists on immediate action.
“Just imagine for a moment that we are at the Pentagon or the White House or some other entity that was under siege,” Pelosi says. “You can logistically get people there as you work out the plan.”
Pelosi talks to Vice President Pence, pushes for Congress to return immediately.
Pelosi speaks with Vice President Mike Pence. She tells him that McConnell is fine with wanting to minimize objections to certifying Joe Biden’s victory.
“We’re trying to figure out how we can do this work today,” she told Pence. “We talked to Mitch about this earlier.” But Pelosi says it’s unclear how soon lawmakers will be able to meet again. “The overriding wish is to do it on Capitol Hill. What we are being told very directly is that it will take days for the Capitol to be okay.
Just before 6 p.m., Pence calls Pelosi and relays the news he has received from the Capitol police: The House and Senate will be able to reconvene in about an hour.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Vice President,” Pelosi said.
Pelosi’s most explosive comments, however, can be seen in the video that the documentary team provided not to the committee, but rather, at CNN.
In the video, before the rioters reached the Capitol, Pelosi is seen in her office. As a staffer tells him that although Trump has publicly said he would join the march to the building, the Secret Service “told him they don’t have the resources to protect him here. So at the moment he is not coming, but that could change.
Pelosi responds, “If he comes, I’ll hit him.” As one aide says she would “hate to see that,” Pelosi continues, “I’ve been waiting for that. For trespassing on Capitol grounds.
She adds, “I’m going to hit him, and I’m going to go to jail, and I’m going to be happy.”