Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Shocking new Jan 6 video shows Pelosi calling for help as rioters yelled ‘bring her out’

Pelosi and Schumer contacted regional leaders to coordinate police response while Trump watched Fox News

John Bowden
Washington DC
Thursday 13 October 2022 23:56 BST
Comments
New Jan 6 footage shows Speaker Pelosi's response as Capitol riot unfolded
Leer en Español

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

New footage of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer huddling with members of the House and Senate amid the January 6 attack was played by the House select committee investigating the attack on Thursday.

In the footage, Ms Pelosi is heard on the phone with Virginia’s Governor Ralph Northam and securing the aid of hundreds of police and National Guard troops as backup.

“Governor, I don’t know if you’ve been approached about the Virginia National Guard,” the House speaker was seen telling Mr Northam on her cell phone.

As Ms Pelosi was making calls for backup, rioters in the Capitol were yelling “bring her out” in reference to the House speaker, according to a video montage produced by CNN.

Later, in a joint call with Ms Pelosi beside him, Mr Schumer is heard demanding that the acting attorney general get in contact with the White House and insist that Mr Trump call off his supporters.

“Yeah, why don't you get the president to tell them to leave the Capitol, Mr attorney general, in your law enforcement responsibility,” Mr Schumer is heard saying.

“I’m gonna call up the effing Secretary [of Defense],” he is heard saying at another point around 3.00 p.m.

The two are heard in repeated instances angrily blaming Mr Trump for the attack and demanding that he do something to get his supporters to leave the building.

They are also seen discussing the issue of continuing with the work of certifiying the 2020 election once the attack ends — even as it remains ongoing.

Aside from the footage of Democratic leadership filling what panel members referred to as a “void” of authority emanating from the White House, the video also depicted a more unguarded look at America’s elected leaders than most see on a given day. In one part, several Democrats including Ms Pelosi, Senator Dick Durbin, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and others are seen sprawled out in chairs around a table with a box of Triscuits in the middle.

The footage pretty directly contradicts conspiracies that Donald Trump has sought to spread about their actions that day; he has long insisted that Democrats did nothing to secure the Capitol both ahead of time (which was not their responsibility as legislators instead of Executive Branch members) and did nothing to rally law enforcement during the attack itself.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in