A newly surfaced video clip shows Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) questioning Kash Patel during his FBI director confirmation hearing about security decisions before Jan. 6, 2021. Cruz focused on then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s rejection of National Guard support ahead of Trump’s speech.
At the time, Patel was chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Christopher C. Miller and had direct knowledge of security arrangements. Patel stated the Defense Department had prepared days in advance, and Trump authorized up to 20,000 National Guard troops. However, local officials needed to request them.
Cruz asked if Capitol Police declined assistance, to which Patel confirmed multiple requests were rejected. Patel also affirmed that the Capitol Sergeant at Arms, reporting to Pelosi, had denied National Guard support. Additionally, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser formally declined extra troops in writing.
Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund previously testified that Pelosi’s team dismissed his request for National Guard support, stating she “would never go for it.” Sund believes the troops’ presence that day could have been a “game-changer.”
