Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi bashed former President Donald Trump’s planned visit to Capitol Hill Thursday, saying his mission is to “dismantle the democracy” in his first return since the Jan. 6, 2021, protest there.
“Today, the instigator of an insurrection is returning to the scene of the crime. January 6th was a crime against the Capitol that saw Nazi and Confederate flags flying under the dome that Lincoln built,” Ms. Pelosi said in a statement to Politico.
“It was a crime against the Constitution and its peaceful transfer of power, in a desperate attempt to cling to power. And it was a crime against members, heroic police officers and staff that resulted in death, injury and trauma that endure to this day,” she added.
Mr. Trump will be addressing House Republicans at the Capitol Hill Club before meeting later with Senate Republicans.
“With his pledges to be a dictator on day one and seek revenge against his political opponents, Donald Trump comes to Capitol Hill today with the same mission of dismantling our democracy,” Ms. Pelosi said. “But make no mistake — Trump has already cemented his legacy of shame in our hallowed halls.”
Ms. Pelosi was present in the Capitol the day of the demonstration by Trump supporters angered by what they called a rigged 2020 election. Newly released footage shows the former speaker having a tense conversation with her chief of staff, Terri McCullough, as they were evacuated from Capitol Hill.
“We have responsibility, Terri. We did not have any accountability for what was going on there. And we should have,” Ms. Pelosi said in the video.
“They clearly didn’t know, and I take responsibility for not having them just prepared for more,” Ms. Pelosi said of the Capitol Police.
Ms. Pelosi played a large role in the selection of those who served on the Jan. 6 select committee that looked into the protest.
The Washington Times has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment.
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