Steven A. Sund (born 6 April 1972) is a retired American law enforcement official,author and public speaker. Sund is a law enforcement veteran with over 30 years of experience in critical incident management and security planning. As former chief of the U.S. Capitol Police,he led the force through significant challenges,including the events of January 6,2021. Previously,he served as commander of the Metropolitan Police Department’s elite Special Operations Division,managing national special security events,numerous large demonstrations and several high profile critical incidents such as the DC Navy yard active shooter incident and the Holocaust Museum shooting. Working alongside the United States Secret Service,Sund has “protected every living president from Carter to Biden”. Sund served as the tenth Chief of the United States Capitol Police from June 13,2019,to January 7,2021. He led the force during the January 6 Capitol attack,after which he faced widespread criticism for the perceived security failures of that day. However,a December 2024 interim report by the Subcommittee on Oversight of the 118th Congress concluded that Sund had “unfairly shouldered the bulk of the blame”and highlighted systemic failures across federal agencies. The report restored his reputation by exonerating him from sole responsibility for the security lapses.[1]
Sund was a member of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia for more than 25 years before retiring in 2015.[2] He was “widely respected in the District and among leaders of U.S. Secret Service,U.S. Park Police”and other law enforcement agencies.[3]
Sund retired from the Metropolitan Police Department as Commander of the Special Operations Division.[2] Thereafter he worked for Noblis as the Director of Business Development for National Security and Intelligence.[2][6]
U.S. Capitol Police
In 2017,Sund joined the United States Capitol Police as the Assistant Chief of Police and Chief of Operations.[2] In June 2019,Sund was sworn in as the tenth Chief of the United States Capitol Police.[2]
Capitol Police received major backlash after video emerged of what looked like some officers allowing rioters into the Capitol, and another officer filmed taking a selfie with rioters.[10][11][12][13]
Sund said in February 2021 that on January 3, he contacted House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul D. Irving and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael C. Stenger to request support from the D.C. National Guard in advance of the January 6 joint-session of Congress. According to Sund, his request was denied by Irving who stated concerns about "optics".[14]
Resignation
In the early morning hours of January 7, Sund issued a statement defending the department's response.[15][5] That afternoon, during a televised press conference, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for Sund's resignation, citing "a failure of leadership at the top" of the department[16] and added that Sund had not contacted her since the event.[17][15] (An aide to Pelosi later clarified that Pelosi and Sund had spoken on the evening of January 6, but not after that time).[18]
That afternoon, Sund submitted a letter of resignation stating his intention to remain in the post until January 16.[19][20] The following day, January 8, Sund's command ended. “The irony is that Sund, the man who did more than anybody to save the Capitol that day, was forced out in ignominy…” https://nypost.com/2024/11/24/opinion/tragic-ashli-babbitt-and-the-buried-jan-6-truth/
Aftermath
On February 1, 2021, Sund sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi detailing the events leading up to and including January 6.[14] Sund provided a timeline for the aid he sought from local law enforcement agencies and D.C. National Guard units, and an accounting of the meetings he had after the perimeter had been breached while he sought assistance.[14] Toward the end of the letter, Sund acknowledged a breakdown in some systems, which he argued could nonetheless be rectified through provision of resources, training, updates to policy, and accountability. He did not specify which systems failed but pointed to the lack of intelligence, noting officials did not predict an armed assault on the Capitol.[14]
On February 23, Sund testified before Senate committees about the storming.[21][22] Sund later stated he regretted his resignation.[23]
On March 3, 2021, Major General William J. Walker, the commanding officer of the D.C. National Guard testified in a U.S. Senate hearing. His testimony supported Sund's account of events.[24] Walker testified that he spoke with Sund at 1:49p.m. Walker said, "It was an urgent plea" from Sund, "and his voice was cracking, and he was serious, he needed help right then and there, every available Guardsman."[25] Within minutes of the call, the Capitol was breached.
Sund maintained that the U.S. Capitol Police "did not fail", that its officers had acted bravely and that, "outnumbered and against tremendous odds", they had maintained the safety of members of Congress.[20]
Sund has written a book, Courage Under Fire: Under Siege and Outnumbered 58 to 1 on January 6 ( ISBN9798200983520), published in January 2023 by Blackstone Publishing. It became an "Amazon triple bestseller" in the first week of publication.[26][27][28] In the book, Sund highlights failures by several intelligence agencies to heed various warnings of the Jan. 6 attack.
In September 2023, Sund testified before the United States House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight. He argued that intelligence officials were responsible for the Capitol attack, and that they had neglected to properly share warnings about the potential of the event becoming violent. Republican members of the subcommittee indicated they felt Sund received disproportionate blame for the attack on the Capitol from political figures including Pelosi.[29]
In December 2024, the Subcommittee on Oversight of the 118th Congress released an interim report addressing the security failures of January 6, 2021. The bipartisan report concluded that former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund had “unfairly shouldered the bulk of the blame for the security failures of that day.” It emphasized that Sund’s reputation had been unjustly maligned in the immediate aftermath but was “restored” through the subcommittee’s investigation, which uncovered systemic failures and miscommunications across agencies, including the Pentagon and the D.C. National Guard.[29]
Media Appearances
Steven Sund has emerged as a prominent figure in U.S. law enforcement, particularly following his tenure as Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. With his extensive experience in crisis management and security, Sund has become a trusted voice in national discussions on law enforcement, security reforms, and preparedness.
Television and News Appearances • Fox News: Sund has appeared on Fox & Friends, Fox News Primetime, Tucker Carlson Tonight, and Sean Hannity’s show, where he discussed the Capitol riot, security lapses, and reforms. His interview with Tucker Carlson on X garnered over 19 million views. • Morning Joe (MSNBC): Sund appeared twice, offering in-depth commentary on the Capitol breach and its aftermath. • 11th Hour with Stephanie Ruhle (MSNBC): He made three appearances, providing expert analysis on the Capitol breach, the security failures, and the steps needed to improve law enforcement preparedness. • Jake Tapper (CNN): Sund was interviewed on The Lead with Jake Tapper, discussing the security implications of the Capitol riot. • CNN Morning Show: Sund provided insights into the events of January 6, 2021, and the response from Capitol law enforcement. • Sky News (UK): Sund was interviewed on multiple occasions, providing commentary on the Capitol breach and U.S. security measures. • Fox 5 DC (Local Contributor): Sund discussed Capitol security and crisis management with Fox 5 DC. • ABC 7 WJLA: Sund was interviewed by Brad Bell, discussing his exoneration and steps taken to improve Capitol security post-January 6. • Inside Edition (January 2025): Sund was interviewed about inaugural security planning, providing his expertise on managing high-profile events. • The Chris Plante Show: Sund has appeared on The Chris Plante Show to offer analysis on the Capitol riot and law enforcement reform. • 60 Minutes (January 2021): Sund appeared on 60 Minutes, where he discussed his role as Capitol Police Chief during the January 6th attack and the failures in security that led to the breach.
Broader Experience and Contributions
Sund’s expertise extends beyond January 6. As incident commander during the 2013 Washington Navy Yard active shooter incident and the Holocaust Memorial shooting, Sund played a key role in responding to major security events in Washington, D.C. His extensive experience also includes security planning for large-scale events in the capital, and he currently works as a contractor assisting with Trump’s inauguration and other major D.C. events.
Radio and Podcasts • SiriusXM: Sund appeared on SiriusXM Patriot to discuss his leadership during various crises, including the Capitol riot. • The Vince Coglianese Show: Sund shared insights on Capitol security and reform in interviews on this conservative-leaning show. • The Larry O’Connor Show: Sund offered analysis on the Capitol breach and law enforcement preparedness. • Podcasts: Sund was interviewed on After Words (C-SPAN), where he discussed his book Courage Under Fire and leadership during critical events.
Print and Written Media • The Washington Post: Sund was pictured on the front page of The Washington Post in February 2021, in the aftermath of the Capitol riot. • The New York Times: Sund’s role during January 6 and the security lapses have been highlighted in The New York Times.
Related Research Articles
The United States Capitol Police (USCP) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States with nationwide jurisdiction charged with protecting the United States Congress within the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories. It answers to the Capitol Police Board and is the only full-service federal law enforcement agency appointed by the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States.
The sergeant at arms and doorkeeper of the United States Senate is the protocol officer, executive officer, and highest-ranking federal law enforcement officer of the Senate of the United States. The office of the sergeant at arms of the Senate currently has just short of 1,000 full time staff.
Paul Douglas Irving is an American former law enforcement officer who served as the Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives from January 17, 2012, until January 7, 2021, succeeding Wilson Livingood in that post. He resigned due to his inability to fulfill his duty during the 2021 United States Capitol attack.
William J. Walker is a retired United States Army major general and former Sergeant at Arms of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the 38th House Sergeant at Arms and the first African-American to hold the office. He last served as the 23rd Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard. This responsibility includes command of the District of Columbia Army and Air National Guard units. Walker previously served in the Drug Enforcement Administration as a Special Agent and was promoted to the Senior Executive Service in January 2003, with his final assignment being Deputy Assistant Administrator in Charge of the Office of Strategic Warning Intelligence. Walker is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a National Academy of Public Administration Fellow.
Walter E. Piatt is a United States Army lieutenant general appointed chief executive officer of Wounded Warrior Project on March 18, 2024. He last served as the 57th Director of the Army Staff from 2019 to 2024. He enlisted in the army in 1979 and served four years as an infantryman. After graduating from Lock Haven University, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1987. Prior to assuming his current position, Piatt was the Commanding General, 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum. His other assignments as a general officer include serving as the 52nd Chief of Infantry; Deputy Commanding General-Support, 10th Mountain Division; Commander, Joint Multinational Training Command; Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Europe; and director of Operations/director, Rapid Equipment Fielding, Army Rapid Capabilities Office.
On January 6, 2021, the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., was attacked by a mob of supporters of then-president Donald Trump in an attempted self-coup d'état, two months after his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. They sought to keep him in power by preventing a joint session of Congress from counting the Electoral College votes to formalize the victory of the president-elect Joe Biden. The attack was ultimately unsuccessful in preventing the certification of the election results. According to the bipartisan House select committee that investigated the incident, the attack was the culmination of a seven-part plan by Trump to overturn the election. Within 36 hours, five people died: one was shot by the Capitol Police, another died of a drug overdose, and three died of natural causes, including a police officer who died of natural causes a day after being assaulted by rioters. Many people were injured, including 174 police officers. Four officers who responded to the attack died by suicide within seven months. Damage caused by attackers exceeded $2.7 million.
Michael Conrad Stenger was an American law enforcement officer who served as the 41st Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate from April 16, 2018, to January 7, 2021.
Jennifer A. Hemingway is an American federal law enforcement officer serving as the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate prior to her appointment at the 119th United States Congress she served as a political advisor and briefly served as the acting Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate and acting chairwoman of the Capitol Police Board in 2021.
On January 7, 2021, a United States Capitol Police (USCP) officer, Brian Sicknick, died after suffering two strokes the day after he responded to the attack on the U.S. Capitol during which he was assaulted with pepper spray by two rioters. His cremated remains were laid in honor in the Capitol Rotunda on February 2, 2021, before they were buried with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery.
The following article is a broad timeline of the course of events surrounding the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, by rioters supporting United States President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election. Pro-Trump rioters stormed the United States Capitol after assembling on the Ellipse of the Capitol complex for a rally headlined as the "Save America March".
Timothy Paul Blodgett is an American law enforcement officer who served as the Sergeant at Arms of the United States House of Representatives from January to April 2021.
Yogananda D. Pittman is an American police officer who is the University of California, Berkeley chief of police. She was formerly the assistant chief and acting chief of the United States Capitol Police (USCP), serving in those posts during and after the 2021 insurrection at the United States Capitol.
In the aftermath of the January 6 United States Capitol attack, after drawing widespread condemnation from the U.S. Congress, members of his administration, and the media, 45th U.S. President Donald Trump released a video-taped statement on January7, reportedly to stop the resignations of his staff and the threats of impeachment or removal from office. In the statement, he condemned the violence at the U.S. Capitol, saying that "a new administration will be inaugurated", which was widely seen as a concession, and his "focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly, and seamless transition of power" to the Joe Biden administration. Vanity Fair reported that Trump was at least partially convinced to make the statement by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who told Trump a sufficient number of Senate Republicans would support removing him from office unless he conceded. Kayleigh McEnany, the White House Press Secretary, had attempted to distance the administration from the rioters' behavior in a televised statement earlier in the day. On January 9, The New York Times reported that Trump had told White House aides he regretted committing to an orderly transition of power and would never resign from office. In a March 25 interview on Fox News, Trump defended the Capitol attackers, saying they were patriots who posed "zero threat", and he criticized law enforcement for "persecuting" the rioters.
The January 6 United States Capitol attack was followed by political, legal, and social repercussions. The second impeachment of Donald Trump, who was charged for incitement of insurrection for his conduct, occurred on January 13. At the same time, Cabinet officials were pressured to invoke the 25th Amendment for removing Trump from office. Trump was subsequently acquitted in the Senate trial, which was held in February after Trump had already left office. The result was a 57–43 vote in favor of conviction, with every Democrat and seven Republicans voting to convict, but two-thirds of the Senate are required to convict. Many in the Trump administration resigned. Several large companies announced they were halting all political donations, and others have suspended funding the lawmakers who had objected to certifying Electoral College results. A bill was introduced to form an independent commission, similar to the 9/11 Commission, to investigate the events surrounding the attack; it passed the House but was blocked by Republicans in the Senate. The House then approved a House "select committee" to investigate the attack. In June, the Senate released the results of its own investigation of the attack. The event led to strong criticism of law enforcement agencies. Leading figures within the United States Capitol Police resigned. A large-scale criminal investigation was undertaken, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opening more than 1,200 case files. Federal law enforcement undertook a nationwide manhunt for the perpetrators, with arrests and indictments following within days. Over 890 people had been found guilty of federal crimes.
The National Commission to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol Complex, known colloquially as the January 6 commission, was an unsuccessful proposal to create a commission that would have investigated the January 6 United States Capitol attack. On February 15, 2021, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi announced that she planned to create a "9/11-type commission". The details were initially negotiated by Republican John Katko, and would have consisted of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. A bill forming the commission passed the House of Representatives on May 19, with all Democrats and 35 Republicans voting in support of it. However, it was blocked by Senate Republicans on May 28, with 54 Senators voting in favor and 35 voting against, failing to clear the 60 votes needed to break a filibuster.
The investigation of the rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol building is the largest criminal probe in U.S. history.
Law enforcement mounted a response to the January 6 United States Capitol attack, initially failing to maintain security perimeters and protect parts of the building from being breached and occupied, but succeeding at protecting members of Congress, and subsequently, as reinforcements arrived, to secure the breached Capitol.
Jeffrey L. Smith, a Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police officer, shot himself on January 15, 2021, nine days after he assisted the United States Capitol Police on January 6, during the January 6 United States Capitol attack. A psychiatrist hired by Officer Smith's widow found that drastic changes in Smith's behavior after January 6 are evidence that the attack on the Capitol was the precipitating event leading to his suicide. On October 13, 2021, two United States Senators and several members of the House of Representatives called for the Mayor to award Line of Duty benefits to Officer Smith and his widow Erin Smith. On March 7, 2022, Officer Smith's death was officially ruled line of duty by the District of Columbia. After petition by his widow, DC Police and Firefighters' Retirement and Relief Board found that the "direct and sole" cause of Officer Smith's death were the injuries he received in the line of duty while responding to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
The Justice for J6 rally was a right-wing demonstration in Washington, D.C., in support of hundreds of people who were arrested and charged following the January 6 United States Capitol attack. It occurred on September 18, 2021. The event attracted 100–200 activists. It was organized by a former Trump campaign staffer. The event was noted for extensive security preparations and concerns over possible unrest.
Ahead of the January 6 United States Capitol attack, there were widespread predictions of violence. Trump supporters, their opponents, media figures, and law enforcement all warned of upcoming violence. In 2023, a Senate report would conclude the attack was "planned in plain sight". Researchers predicted the violence was likely to occur if the elections were close and if Trump could not ensure that his supporters would commit fraud on his behalf.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Executive Team". United States Capitol Police. June 16, 2016. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved April 26, 2020. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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