February 23, 2021 Capitol riot hearing news

A top Capitol security official on Tuesday debunked claims by some Republicans that Democratic lawmakers delayed the deployment of the National Guard during the Jan. 6 insurrection. 

Then-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund previously said it took one hour for then-House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving to approve his request for National Guard troops. Sund claimed Irving told him he needed to “run it up the chain of command,” which would include elected congressional leaders from both parties.

On Tuesday, Irving disputed this timeline and claimed there was no delay. 

Sund’s previous comments led some top House Republicans to accuse House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, of slowing down the National Guard response during the attack.

They sent a letter to Pelosi last week, asking her to explain any involvement and accusing her office of “obstruction.” 

Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican who promoted former President Trump’s lies about voter fraud, brought up this angle at the Senate hearing Tuesday. He asked Irving if any politicians delayed in the desperate requests for national guard troops while the Capitol was being stormed on Jan. 6. 

“You weren’t waiting any point from congressional leadership? … You weren’t waiting for them at any point, there was no delay in getting national guard requests?” Hawley asked. 

“No, absolutely not,” Irving said. 

This debunks comments from Rep. Jim Jordan, a top Republican from Ohio, who wrote the letter to Pelosi. Last week, he tweeted about the slow deployment of troops, saying, “During the attack, Capitol Police made the request again. It took over an hour to get approval from Pelosi’s team!”