Newly-released footage has reignited discussions around former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) response to the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach.
Captured by her daughter, Alexandria, the video shows Pelosi on January 7, 2021, expressing her belief that former President Donald Trump should “pay a price” for the events of that day. This moment, documented shortly after Congress certified Joe Biden’s election victory, reveals Pelosi’s deep frustration and determination to see Trump held accountable.
Pelosi’s comments reflect her stance during the aftermath of January 6, where she led the charge in the House to impeach Trump for “incitement of insurrection.” Although the Senate, controlled by the GOP, acquitted Trump, Pelosi and House Democrats didn’t stop there. They spearheaded a bipartisan investigation into the events of January 6, culminating in a recommendation for criminal charges against Trump.
“I just feel sick about what [Trump] did to the Capitol and the country today. He’s got to pay a price for that.”
— @politico has obtained previously unaired footage of Nancy Pelosi as she responded to January 6th pic.twitter.com/I16cQx7cqU
— The Recount (@therecount) August 28, 2024
As Trump continues his 2024 White House campaign, he faces multiple criminal charges, including those related to alleged election subversion. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, framing the charges as part of a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
Republicans, who regained control of the House in the 2022 election, have pushed back against the narrative, launching their own investigations into the January 6 panel and the security failures that occurred that day. In a June 2024 development, the House Oversight Subcommittee revealed a video where Pelosi seemingly takes “responsibility” for the inadequate National Guard preparation on January 6, contradicting her public efforts to place the blame on Trump.
🚨 Since January 6, 2021, Nancy Pelosi spent 3+ years and nearly $20 million creating a narrative to blame Donald Trump.
NEW FOOTAGE shows on January 6, Pelosi ADMITTED:
“I take responsibility.”
WATCH: pic.twitter.com/95a0totTWB
— Oversight Subcommittee (@OversightAdmn) June 10, 2024
Recent clips from the HBO documentary about Pelosi, released in 2022, have further fueled the debate. In these clips, Pelosi labels Trump as a “domestic enemy” and criticizes his influence on the country. These remarks echo her previous comments from 2020, where she identified “domestic enemies” as being at “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”
Republicans, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), have condemned Pelosi’s rhetoric, linking it to the rise in political violence, including the 2017 congressional baseball practice shooting that targeted Republicans. Scalise called Pelosi’s comments “disgusting,” highlighting the dangers of such inflammatory language in the nation’s political discourse.
