They Sacrificed to Defend Democracy

Capitol and D.C. Officers indict Trump and GOP for inspiring a racist, violent attack by “terrorists” and “white supremacists.”

On the first hearing of the House January 6 committee, officers gave powerful and emotional testimony describing a day of “hell” and call out “disgraceful” Republicans “who continue to deny the events of that day. And in doing so betray their oath of office." Officers accused the GOP for “a continued shocking attempt to ignore or try to destroy the truth of what truly happened that day and to whitewash the facts into something other than what they unmistakinigly reveal, an attack on our democracy by violent domestic extremists.”

Four officers who defended the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot testified to House lawmakers. The officers described in dramatic detail what they witnessed, and asked for a thorough investigation into what led to the attack.CreditCredit...Oliver Contreras for The New York Times

Officer Harry Dunn of the U.S. Capitol Police, right, testified that he was repeatedly called a racist slur by the mob. Credit...Oliver Contreras for The New York Times

‘A hit man sent them.’ Police at the Capitol recount the horrors of Jan. 6 as the inquiry begins., New York Times | 7/27/2021

By Luke Broadwater and Nicholas Fandos

“All of them — all of them were telling us, ‘Trump sent us,’” Aquilino A. Gonell, a U.S. Capitol Police sergeant, said on Tuesday as he tearfully recounted the horrors of defending Congress on Jan. 6, testifying at the first hearing of a House select committee to investigate the attack.

One by one, in excruciating detail, Sergeant Gonell and three other officers who faced off with the hordes that broke into the Capitol told Congress of the brutal violence, racism and hostility they suffered as a throng of angry rioters, acting in the name of President Donald J. Trump, beat, crushed and shocked them.


Video: Watch Highlights From Day One Of Jan. 6 House Select Committee Hearing, NBC News | 7/27/2021

Watch four police officers testify and other highlights from day one of the House select committee formed to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.


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