Capitol insurrection crisis goes in court with cop testimony
Police officers assaulted during the US Capitol insurrection of January 6 were expected to testify on Tuesday, as a congressional panel investigating the deadly attack kicked off its work in Washington’s acutely partisan environment.
Six months after a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the seat of American democracy in the worst attack on the legislature since the War of 1812, the American public will learn of the challenges faced by law enforcement in the debut hearing before a select committee that has become a political flashpoint.
“Nothing will be off-limits. We will do what is necessary to understand what happened, why, and how,” the panel’s Democratic chairman, Bennie Thompson, wrote in an opinion piece in the Washington Post. “The committee will provide the definitive accounting of one of the darkest days in our history.”
Lawmakers were to receive first-hand accounts from police attacked by rioters who fought their way into the building, hunted for the likes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and sought to block certification of Joe Biden’s November presidential election victory.
Trump on Monday dismissed the probe as “a fake and highly partisan” and attempted to blame Pelosi for allegedly failing to protect the Capitol from his supporters.
Four police officers were to testify at the 9:30 am hearing, including Washington officer Michael Fanone, who was stun-gunned and beaten by rioters.
Fanone, who suffered a heart attack during the mayhem, has told US media that the clashes amounted to “the most brutal, savage hand-to-hand combat” of his life.
Also testifying is US Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who has spoken of racial epithets hurled at him and other police by rioters, many of whom were associated with ultra-nationalist and white supremacist groups.
Five people died during or shortly after the insurrection, while dozens of police were injured.
House Republican leadership has essentially boycotted the select committee, pulling its five appointments last week after Pelosi took unprecedented action by rejecting two of Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy’s picks. Instead of leaving the panel with just Democrats, Pelosi unilaterally named two Republicans: Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.
Both are forceful Trump critics who voted for his impeachment in January, and both have drawn GOP censure for refusing to back Trump’s baseless claims that the election was stolen.
Security forces respond after the US President Donald Trump’s supporters breached the US Capitol security in Washington DC, US on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
