On September 19, 2023, Kerry Pickett reported the following in The Washington Times:

Rep. Nancy Pelosi was among the key players whom former U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven A. Sund said was responsible for the breakdown in security that led to the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.  Mr. Sund testified before the House Administration Oversight subcommittee Tuesday [September 19, 2023] and told lawmakers that at the time of the attack, he learned that then-Speaker Pelosi never wanted the National Guard deployed.

According to Mr. Sund, on Jan. 3, 2021, he talked to House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger about calling in the National Guard. He was told by Mr. Stenger that he should ask Maj. Gen. William Walker, who was the commander of the D.C. National Guard, how quickly his troops could deploy to the Capitol Complex if necessary.

Mr. Sund said at the hearing that four months after the riot, Mr. Stenger told him Mrs. Pelosi, California Democrat, did not want the guard on Capitol grounds that day.  “I said, ‘Mr. Stenger, you came up with that response fairly quickly for me to call Gen. Walker.’ And he told me Paul Irving had called him ahead of time and said, ‘Sund came here asking for the National Guard. We’ve got to come up with another plan. Pelosi will never go for it.’ I was floored by him saying that.”

According to Mr. Sund, on the day when a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol and disrupted Congress’ certification of President Biden’s win, he contacted Mr. Irving at 12:58 p.m. and requested they call in the National Guard. “He was fully aware of just how bad it was outside …. and I did not get the approval,” he said. He said Mr. Irving said he would “run it up the chain” to get approval. Final approval, which Mr. Sund interpreted as getting from Mrs. Pelosi, was not received for another 71 minutes, he said.

Mr. Sund resigned on Jan. 16, 2021, after Mrs. Pelosi called for him to step down from his post and blamed him for not securing the Capitol.

He maintains that he called the National Guard six times for three days before the attack, but they didn’t deploy.