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A previously unreleased video taken on Jan. 6, 2021 shows then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., saying she takes “responsibility” for law enforcement’s lack of preparedness when a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol that day.
A tweet on X by a House Republican panel contains video that appears to show a frustrated Pelosi being evacuated from the Capitol complex and in intense conversation with Chief of Staff Terri McCullough about how the evacuation was conducted.
“We have responsibility, Terri. We did not have any accountability for what was going on there. And we should have,” Pelosi says in the video, which was reviewed in its original form by Fox News Digital. “This is ridiculous. You’re going to ask me in the middle of the thing when they’ve already breached…that, should we call the Capitol Police? I mean the National Guard? Why weren’t the National Guard there to begin with?”
Her aide appeared to reply that Capitol security did believe they were prepared, to which Pelosi continued, “They clearly didn’t know, and I take responsibility for not having them just prepared for more.”
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Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the subject of newly unearthed video from Jan. 6, 2021 (Getty Images)
Pelosi then appears to take a shot at former President Trump’s supporters, who ransacked part of the Capitol including her office.
“It’s stupid that we should be in a situation like this, because they thought they had what- they thought these people would act civilized? They thought these people would give a damn?” Pelosi said. “What is it that is missing here in terms of anticipation? They give us a piece of paper that says walk through the tunnel, don’t walk outside. That’s your preparation?”
When reached for comment on the video, a spokesperson for Pelosi told Fox News Digital, “Numerous independent fact-checkers have confirmed again and again that Speaker Pelosi did not plan her own assassination on January 6th.”
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The video showed her being evacuated as Trump supporters stormed the Capitol (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)
“As the footage in its entirety plainly shows, Speaker Pelosi sprang into action in response to the attack on the Capitol — mobilizing the defense of the Capitol, urging the Administration to deploy the National Guard and coordinating the continuity of government. Cherry-picked, out-of-context clips do not change the fact that the Speaker of the House is not in charge of the security of the Capitol Complex — on January 6th or any other day of the week,” the spokesperson said. “Three years later, House Republicans are still attempting to whitewash the deadly insurrection.”
House Republicans, however, say the clip undercuts Pelosi’s assertions that Trump was to blame for the Jan. 6 riot.
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Fox News Digital obtained the clip from the House Administration Committee’s subcommittee on oversight, which is led by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (Getty images)
Rep. Barry Loudermilk, R-Ga., chair of the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight, accused the now-defunct House January 6 select committee of trying to hide evidence that contradicted a certain narrative.
“As Nancy Pelosi was being evacuated from the Capitol on January 6, 2021 she admitted that, as Speaker of the House, she was ultimately responsible for the security failures, and for not having the National Guard at the Capitol that day. Then, she proceeded to spend nearly 20 million of taxpayer dollars for her Select Committee to blame President Trump for her failures,” Loudermilk said.
“The Democrats’ partisan January 6 select committee went to great lengths to suppress and hide any evidence that didn’t support their predetermined narrative about that day, including a video of Speaker Pelosi admitting her responsibility. My committee will continue to investigate and expose all the facts we find, because the American people deserve to know the truth.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Jan. 6 committee’s former chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., for comment.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for Fox News Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Follow on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to elizabeth.elkind@fox.com
