Established Fact
[Established Fact – Denials occurred; 70+ minute delay documented] United States Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund submitted requests for National Guard assistance – in advance of and during January 6, 2021 – that were denied six times by the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms, with the stated justification of political “optics.” Department of Defense officials additionally delayed the deployment of the DC National Guard (DCNG) by over 70 minutes after the Capitol breach had commenced. The Senate Bipartisan Report confirmed that security failures were systemic and that advance intelligence of specific threats was rated “remote” despite documented threat specificity. Sund has repeatedly stated under oath that denial of the National Guard request was the decisive operational failure.
Citations
Written Testimony of USCP Chief Steven A. Sund, Senate Rules Committee (Feb. 23, 2021), pp. 3-8 (documenting six denials of National Guard request and 70+ minute delay after breach commenced). See Sund Senate testimony.
Oral Testimony of Steven A. Sund before the House Committee on Administration Oversight Subcommittee (Sept. 19, 2023), pp. 12-17 (reaffirming six denials and DoD 71-minute delay). See Sund House oral testimony.
House Administration Oversight Subcommittee found that the Department of Defense’s 71-minute delay in approving National Guard deployment was intentional. See House Administration Committee Interim Report, pp. 22-28.
Testimony of USCP Former Chief of Police Steven A. Sund: https://www.rules.senate.gov/download/testimony_sund | U.S. Senate Rules Committee
Ex-Capitol Police Chief Says Requests For National Guard Denied 6 Times In Riots: https://www.npr.org/2021/01/11/955548910/ex-capitol-police-chief-rebuffs-claims-national-guard-was-never-called-during-ri | NPR
Outgoing U.S. Capitol Police chief says his effort to get help was thwarted – paper: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-police/outgoing-us-capitol-police-chief-says-his-effort-to-get-help-was-thwarted-paper-idUSKBN29G0H3/ | Reuters