“If those responsible are not held accountable, and if Congress does not act responsibly, this will remain a cancer on our constitutional republic, undermining the peaceful transfer of power at the heart of our democracy system.” — Liz Cheney
Liz Cheney's opening statement to the January 6 Select Committee: "On January 6th and in the days thereafter, almost all members of my party recognized the events of that day for what they actually were … no member of Congress should not attempt to defend the indefensible."
US Capitol Sgt Aquilino Gonell: "What we were subjected to that day was like something from a medieval battle. We fought hand to hand … the rioters that attempted to reach the Capitol were shouting, 'Trump sent us' … I recall thinking to myself, 'this is how I'm gonna die'"
Sgt. Gonell gets emotional recalling how when he returned home early on the morning on Jan 7, he had to push his wife away because of all the chemicals he had on his clothes
"There are some who express outrage when someone kneels while calling for social justice. Where are those same people expressing the outrage to condemn the violent attack on law enforcement, the Capitol and our American democracy? I'm still waiting for them" — Sgt Gonell
"We are not asking for medals or recognition, we simply want justice and accountability" — Sgt Gonell
DC Officer Michael Fanone's opening statement to the January 6th Select Committee: "I was at risk of being stripped of and killed with my own firearm, as I heard chants of 'kill him with his own gun.' I can still hear those words in my head today."
Fanone: "I was aware enough to recognize I was at risk of being stripped of and killed with my own firearm. I was electrocuted again and again and again with a taser. I'm sure I was screaming, but I don't think I could even hear my own voice."
Fanone: "I thought about using my firearm … But I knew if I did, I'd be quickly overwhelmed & in their minds that would provide them w/the justification for killing me. So instead I decided to appeal to any humanity they might have. I said as loud as I could, 'I've got kids'"
Fanone pounds the table as he says, "the indifference shown to my colleagues is disgraceful!"
"Nothing has prepared me to address those elected members of our government who continue to deny the events of that day and in doing so betray their oath of office," he adds
DC officer Daniel Hodges: "A man attempted to rip the baton from my hands & we wrestled for control. I retained my weapon. After I pushed him back, he yelled at me, 'you're on the wrong team!'…another [shouted], 'you will die on your knees!'"
The look on Adam Kinzinger's face during law enforcement's opening statements to the January 6 committee says a lot
"The mob of terrorists were shouting 'heave, ho' and they pushed their way forward. A man in front of me grabbed my baton … he bashed me in the face and head with it … I did the only thing I could do and screamed for help" — Officer Hodges
Capitol Officer Harry Dunn on what he saw on January 6: "Until then I had never seen anyone physically assault Capitol police or MPD, let alone witness mass assaults being perpetrated on law enforcement officers."
Officer Dunn: "I told them to just leave the Capitol, and in response they yelled, 'no man, this is our house. President Trump invited us here. We're here to stop the steal.'"
He goes on to detail how crowd yelled racial slurs at him.
fficer Dunn: "I sat down on a bench in the rotunda with a friend of mine who is also a black Capitol police officer and told him about the racial slurs I endured. I became very emotional and began yelling, 'how the blank could something like this happen. Is this America?'"
Reminder: this is Officer Daniel Hodges
Sgt. Gonell: "My time, compared to [serving in] Iraq, totally different. This is our own citizens, people who we've sworn an oath to protect, but yet they are attacking us with the same flag they claim to represent. It was bad."
Officer Dunn on racial abuse he received on January 6: "It was just so overwhelming and so disheartening and disappointing that we live in a country with people like that"
Originally tweeted by Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) on July 27, 2021.
I still can’t believe what happened on January 6th. It’s like something out of a bad movie. But I know that the Republican Party is trying to cover it up — and the Trump base is proud of it.
It’s still stunning to see their shameless hypocrisy acted out in such living color. These are supposedly the law and order Real Americans who respect authority. Surprise …