New Jan. 6 video shows Pelosi talking Trump, 25th Amdt and Capitol security

[RAY BOGAN]

Newly released footage shows then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on January 6th 2021 as rioters were breaking into the U.S. Capitol building. In the video, Pelosi discusses the 25th amendment, calls Trump a domestic enemy, and says she takes responsibility for not having better prepared security.  

The footage was originally shot by Pelosi’s daughter Alexandra for an HBO documentary she made about her mother called “Pelosi in the House”. It was released in 2022. The new video was provided by HBO to the House Committee on Administration as part of its Republican-led investigation aimed at undermining the January 6th Select Committee. It was also obtained by multiple news outlets including CNN, CBS and NBC.  

In a clip released by NBC News, Pelosi can be seen meeting with her senior staff on January 7th and discussing the 25th amendment. That allows the Vice President and a majority of the cabinet to declare the President unable to discharge the duties of his office, making the Vice President the Acting President. 

[Nancy Pelosi]

“I want a copy of the cabinet because I want to say when we talk about the 25th amendment, we’re talking, we’re calling upon Secretary Pompeo, Secretary whatever his name is, Mnuchin, the attorney general of the United States. Just right down the succession line.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

This is what Pelosi ultimately said publicly. 

[Nancy Pelosi]

“In calling for this seditious act, the President has committed an unspeakable assault on our nation and our people. I join the senate democratic leader in calling on the Vice PResident to remove this President by immediately invoking the 25th amendment. If the Vice President and the cabinet do not act, the congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

Then – Vice President Pence ultimately declined to invoke the 25th amendment and the House impeached Trump for a second time. 

In another clip released by CBS, Pelosi is seen being escorted out of the Capitol by her security detail and asking why they weren’t prepared for the worst. She asked why the National Guard were just being called then and said they should have been there from the beginning. 

[CBS CLIP]

Nancy Pelosi: “Why weren’t the National Guard there to begin with?” 

Staff: “They thought that they had sufficient resources.” 

Pelosi: “That is not a question… They don’t know, they clearly didn’t know and I take more responsibility for not having them just prepared for more.”

[RAY BOGAN]

Former Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said Trump told them they would need 10,000 national guardsmen for January 6 but never elaborated on it. According to the AP, there’s no evidence Trump signed an order approving troops. Miller also told the January 6th select committee that local law enforcement thought they had sufficient personnel. 

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