A new video shows Nancy Pelosi fuming at Donald Trump as the Capitol was under siege, and making introspective comments about the massive security failure of January 6.
“There is a domestic enemy in the White House, and let’s not mince words about it,” she tells her aides, waving her arm as they gather to formulate a response to the historic events.
The audio and video footage was captured by the daughter of the former Speaker of the House, filmmaker Alexandria. The footage was delivered to Congress by HBO and released by the Republican-led House Administration Committee.
In a tense scene, Pelosi is seen evacuating the Capitol, where she has served since 1987. She is also heard calling on then-President Trump to pay for what happened.
“I’m just sickened by what he did to the Capitol and the country today,” she said, when her daughter asked her how it felt to be done with Trump. “He’s got to pay a price for that,” she said. (The question wasn’t exactly prophetic: Trump is now locked in a dubious race to reclaim the White House.)
Another photo shows her meeting with key staff in her Capitol office, in front of an ornate mirror that was smashed by rioters who stormed her workspace.
In it, she discusses initial reactions to the events with staff and drafts a statement calling for the resignation of the Capitol Police chief.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admits ‘responsibility’ for security failures, calls Donald Trump a ‘domestic enemy’ in dramatic new video on January 6
“I think we need to focus on the president. Let’s not distract ourselves,” said Pelosi, who was hailed as the “mother of dragons” by keynote speaker Mindy Kaling at the Democratic National Convention last week.
Senior adviser Drew Hammill is seen leaving the room just after Pelosi calls Trump a “domestic enemy.”
“What a mess!” she shouts at her assistants at one point.
“I don’t care what they say. They should have been much more considerate of the National Guard,” Pelosi voiced her frustration, in just one of her comments about security failures amid a years-long blame game.
Pelosi has never hidden her anger toward Trump in her public remarks after Jan. 6. But the newly released footage also reveals that she admitted she did not anticipate an angry mob that would storm the building after Trump spoke at the White House as he continued to dispute the 2020 election results.
“If they stop the process, we’ve failed completely. And we need to take some responsibility for not holding security accountable for what could have happened.”
The Oversight Subpanel of the Committee on House Administration has in its summary of the videos cuts out the first part of the quote, so that it begins with, “We have failed utterly.”
Pelosi can be heard calling Donald Trump a “domestic enemy” and trying to draw attention to him and blame him
Former Speaker continues to speak out about security breaches and the importance of suspending procedures to certify the president on January 6
“What a mess!” she exclaims to her staff at one point, shortly after the Capitol is invaded
Subcommittee Chairman Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia is leading a Jan. 6 investigation that will look back at the select committee’s investigation and focus on security failures.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe the stupidity of this. And I take full responsibility,” she said in remarks highlighted by the panel, which released the video a day after special counsel Jack Smith obtained a new grand jury indictment against Trump for his Jan. 6 case.
Footage shows Pelosi’s security team escorting her through the Capitol’s maze of tunnels and to her SUV so she can be moved safely.
Pelosi indicated she is concerned about what would happen if the process to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the election were to be halted.
“If they stop the proceedings, they will have stopped the validation of the president of the United States,” Pelosi said. Then-Vice President Mike Pence had similar concerns and remained in a Capitol garage while the joint session of Congress was reconvened.
Pelosi was clearly unhappy with the level of planning. She served on a Capitol Police Board that includes security officials from both chambers.
“How many times have members asked, ‘Are we prepared? Are we prepared?’ We are not prepared for the worst.”
“We’re calling out the National Guard now? They should have been there to begin with. I just don’t get it. Why are we giving people power like this by not being ready?”
She also admitted to her chief of staff Terri McCullough: “I feel responsible.”
“We have a responsibility, Terri. We had no responsibility for what happened there and we should have. This is ridiculous.”
In other comments, she vents her frustrations as her security vehicle races through Washington, DC
So what’s the prospect? I’m going to be here all day, the rest of our lives? For what? We’re here until what? Until the National Guard decides to come and take these people away? Oh my god, I can’t believe how stupid this is. And I take full responsibility,” she says.
“Call the National Guard. I’ve asked them to do that before,” she says as she makes her way into the bowels of the Capitol on the House side.
“We did,” McCullough interrupts.
“This is what they brought,” former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland tells Pelosi as the two pass each other in the basement and the former speaker raises her hands.
As she heads to the House of Representatives office building, her security team tells her that protesters have already stormed the Capitol.
“Over and over again — we’re prepared for what could happen,” Pelosi says, speaking mostly to herself. “Think of the worst. We didn’t.”
As she walks through the subway, she complains about having to give up her seat.
“If they stop the procedures, they will also have succeeded in stopping the validation of the President of the United States,” she fumes.