In a riveting segment on his new independent show, "Tucker on Twitter," Tucker Carlson sat down with former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund to dissect the puzzling sequence of events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol disturbance. The conversation was a follow-up to an unaired discussion Carlson had recorded while still with Fox News.
Carlson, known for his probing and no-holds-barred questioning, sought insights from Sund about the lack of intelligence sharing ahead of the fateful day. Sund revealed that, despite being the chief responsible for the safety of Capitol Hill, he was left in the dark about potential threats. Contrary to the usual protocol, Sund claimed he had not been informed of intelligence pointing towards possible threats against the Capitol Building, Congress members, or even his police force.
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| L to R: Tucker Carlson and Steven Sund File Photo |
Sund expressed his frustration to Carlson, stating, “They contemplated locking down the city because of violence apprehensions. Notably, I'm the one who greenlights permits for Capitol Hill demonstrations. Yet, who was the last to know? Me."
Furthermore, Sund discussed the baffling decision made by the former acting Defense Secretary, Chris Miller, on January 4th. Miller issued a directive restricting the National Guard from being equipped with weapons or gear typically employed during demonstrations. Sund found this decision counter-intuitive given the context, exclaiming, "It simply doesn't add up."
The former chief's recounting of the events suggested a perplexing lack of coordination and intelligence sharing. Sund commented on his experience, saying, “I've managed numerous high-security national events. The approach to Jan. 6 was unprecedented. There was an evident absence of joint briefings, coordination, or any preceding discussions.” He continued, implying a possible intentional dilution of intelligence, "It felt as if someone wished the intelligence to be diluted for some inexplicable reason."
Earlier this year, Sund documented his firsthand experiences of that day in a book, “Courage Under Fire: Under Siege and Outnumbered 58 to 1 on January 6.” In it, he mentions how he had sought National Guard assistance three days before the event, only to be turned down. During the interview, Sund shared with Carlson that Lt. Gen. Walter Piatt had rejected his request, citing unfavorable "optics" if the National Guard was deployed on Capitol Hill.
Ever the skeptic, Carlson responded, "This entire scenario sounds eerily like a setup." He further pondered, “It's one thing for individuals to err under duress. But what you're delineating is a coordinated refusal, spanning multiple agencies and individuals, all culminating in the inexplicable decision not to fortify the Capitol.”
The revealing conversation between Carlson and Sund has reignited debates about the events of Jan. 6, raising more questions about potential lapses and motives behind the security decisions taken that day.