House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) on Thursday backed the continued presence of the D.C. National Guard at the Capitol in wake of the deadly insurrection on January 6.
“We should have them here as long as they are needed,” Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press briefing.
The Democratic leader noted that the decision was ultimately up to the Capitol Police, who have requested on Thursday that the National Guard troops remain for an additional two months, according to the Associated Press and Reuters.
Pelosi said that retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré, whom she has appointed to find and address the security failings that allowed a mob of ex-President Donald Trump’s supporters to ransack the Capitol, was drafting a plan that will “hopefully” be presented to Congress next week.
Between COVID-19 and “the threat of all the President’s men out there,” Congress has to “ensure with our security that we are safe enough to do our job,” Pelosi said.
Her remarks came on the day of what Capitol Police warned could be a “possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group” amid a QAnon conspiracy theory that Trump will be inaugurated on March 4.
The House cancelled its Thursday voting session after law enforcement’s alert. So far, there haven’t appeared to be any violent clashes at the Capitol.
However, Pelosi dismissed the “silliness” of the QAnon conspiracy theory that Trump will be inaugurated on March 4 or any other day.
“Let’s not waste our time on it,” she said.
