FACT CHECK: Did Nancy Pelosi Fake A Phone Call During The January 6 Attack?
An image shared on Facebook allegedly shows Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faking a phone call during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Verdict: False
The claim is false. A keyword search generates a video of Pelosi speaking to then-Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam during the attack via phone.
Fact Check:
The Jan. 6 Committee voted to subpoena former President Donald Trump during an Oct. 13 hearing, ABC News reported. There is concern that the former president can use ongoing and unresolved legal disputes to resist the subpoena, The New York Times reported.
The Facebook post shows Pelosi holding a phone up to her ear, in which the screen appears to be off. “Is your phone screen black while you’re talking to someone?” the post’s caption reads.
The caption is incorrect. There are no credible news reports to support the claim Pelosi faked a phone call during the attack. Likewise, neither Pelosi or the January 6 Committee’s verified social media pages or their respective websites make reference to such a claim.
A keyword search reveals the claim stems from a Twitter post featuring the same photo of Pelosi. According to a link from Sony Electronics, which has been added to the post to provide more context, a smartphone’s screen will switch off when it detects a user is holding the device to their ear.
Is your phone screen black while you’re talking to someone?
h/t @waxx411 pic.twitter.com/AyAMAA98nG
— Cari Kelemen 2.0 (@CariKelemen) October 14, 2022
A subsequent keyword search generates a video of Pelosi, where she can be seen making a phone call and speaking to then-Virginia Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam during the attack. Pelosi asks Northam if anyone has approached him about bringing in the Virginia National Guard to stop the attack.
Just before she puts the phone to her ear, the phone’s call screen can be seen before switching off. (RELATED: Is A ‘Panel’ Led By Nancy Pelosi ‘Ready To Arrest’ Donald Trump?)
Previously never-before-seen footage of the attack showing Pelosi and other U.S. lawmakers was recently released, BBC News reported.
Check Your Fact has contacted Pelosi’s office for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.
