Nancy Pelosi snaps at reporter, says 'shut up' after being questioned on January 6 riot

WASHINGTON, DC: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi snapped at a reporter from a pro-Trump media outlet, telling her to “shut up” after being questioned about her alleged responsibility for the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

Alison Steinberg, a correspondent for LindellTV, asked Pelosi, “Congresswoman Pelosi, are you at all concerned that the new January 6 committee will find you liable for that day?”

Pelosi, who had been walking away from the Capitol, abruptly turned around, pointed at the reporter, and replied sharply, “Shut up.” Clearly irritated, she added, “I did not refuse the National Guard, the president didn’t send it.”

Why Nancy Pelosi told a reporter to ‘shut up’

tense exchange unfolded on Wednesday, October 15, when Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was confronted outside the Capitol about her alleged role in the January 6 riot. The former House Speaker appeared visibly annoyed when a reporter pressed her on claims that she had “refused the National Guard” that day.

When Steinberg followed up, asking, “Why did you refuse the National Guard on January 6?” Pelosi suddenly turned around, pointed her finger, and snapped, “Shut up.” She continued, “I did not refuse the National Guard, the president didn’t send it! Why are you coming here with Republican talking points as if you’re a serious journalist?”

Steinberg responded, “The American people want to know. We still have questions.” The video of the heated exchange, first posted by LindellTV on X (formerly Twitter), quickly spread online and was later reposted by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.

House forms new panel to probe Capitol attack and intelligence lapses

According to Politico, the GOP-controlled House voted last month to form a new committee to investigate the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The panel will be chaired by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.), who intends to review the security failures that allowed the riots to occur.

The House officially approved the new Republican-led committee on September 3, 2025. Loudermilk will lead the panel with authority to request information and compel testimony. The committee aims to examine security and intelligence breakdowns that contributed to the attack.

Many Republicans have blamed Pelosi for the failures, while Democrats dismiss the move as a political effort to rewrite history. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) will appoint eight members, while Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) can recommend three. Loudermilk has also named Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) as a potential member.

The long-running controversy over Nancy Pelosi and Capitol security

In 2021, several conservatives claimed that then–House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blocked the National Guard from responding to the January 6 insurrection. Drew Hammill, Pelosi’s spokesperson, pushed back on the accusation in a statement to the Associated Press, saying, “On January 6th, the Speaker, a target of an assassination attempt that day, was no more in charge of Capitol security than Mitch McConnell was. This is a clear attempt to whitewash what happened on January 6th and divert blame.”