Two leading House security aides under then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi received warnings that protesters may attempt to enter the U.S. Capitol.
The warnings were received the evening before January 6, 2021.
Just the News obtained the memos, one of which read, “We have identified numerous open source comments indicating groups intentions of finding the tunnel entrances and confronting/blocking the MOCs [Members of Congress].” The memo, issued by Capitol Police Deputy Chief Sean Gallagher to Deputy House Sergeant at Arms Tim Blodgett, adds that the tunnels may be used to “get to the Capitol.” The email was then forwarded to then-Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving.
The Sergeant at Arms operates under the direction of the House Speaker and is responsible for U.S. Capitol security.
“It’s unknown if the groups will actually mobilize that early at 0600, but tomorrow is an all hands on deck for USCP [United States Capitol Police] and we will have additional assets to deal with any blocking of the barricades/entrances/etc,” the memo added.
Pelosi’s then-chief of staff, Terri McCullough, was scheduled for a briefing on the matter on the morning of January 6.
Some believe the memo explains a recently surfaced video of Pelosi claiming responsibility for the Capitol protest.
Pelosi says in the video, “We have responsibility, Terri,” referring to McCullough. ”We did not have any accountability for what was going on there, and we should have.”
In another email, Irving’s office asked McCullough to review Capitol security measures.
House Administration Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) plans to question Pelosi’s staff on the warnings.
The January 6th Committee previously suppressed a transcript that vindicates Donald Trump’s claim that he called for 10,000 National Guard troops to be present at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Former U.S. Representative Liz Cheney (R-WY) falsely claimed the committee had “no evidence” to support Trump officials’ claims that the administration desired 10,000 National Guard troops.
A staffer is recorded as asking Deputy Chief of Staff Anthony Ornato, according to a 2022 transcript, “When it comes to the National Guard statement about having 10,000 troops or any other number of troops, do you recall any discussion prior to the 6th about whether and how many National Guard troops to deploy on January 6th?”
“I remember the number 10,000 coming up of, you know, the President wants to make sure that you have enough. You know, he is willing to ask for 10,000. I remember that number. Now that you said it, it reminded me of it,” Ornato said. “And that [Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser] was all set. She had, I think it was like 350 or so for intersection control and those types of things not in the law enforcement capacity at the time. And then that’s the only thing I recall with that number 10,000 National Guard guardsmen.”
