Capitol Police Officer Condemns GOP Gaslighting On Insurrection

Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who fought off Donald Trump-supporting rioters in the course of the Jan. 6 riot, expressed astonishment Friday at Republican makes an attempt to rewrite the historical past of the violence.

“They had been there with a objective to harm folks. They’d unhealthy intentions,” Dunn advised CNN’s “New Day” of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol. 5 folks died, together with a Capitol Police officer, and greater than 140 officers had been injured.

“It simply hurts to consider that folks can suppose that it was a traditional day, it was a tour,” Dunn mentioned, citing a few of the GOP truth-altering. “It’s hurtful that they’ll say issues like that after we had officers give their life to ensure that they had been secure.”

Although the riot was properly documented by video and eyewitness accounts, GOP lawmakers on Wednesday tried to current it as one thing far totally different than what it was. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) mentioned throughout a House Oversight Committee hearing that it seemed like “a traditional tour go to.” Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz) claimed it was police “harassing peaceful patriots.”

Dunn mentioned he and his legislation enforcement colleagues had been solely simply beginning to get better from the occasions in January “after which that listening to Wednesday comes out and also you’re like, you bought to be kidding me.”

“It’s onerous to consider that folks nonetheless deny what actually occurred,” mentioned Dunn, who has beforehand described the racist abuse he obtained from rioters.

“If the video proof doesn’t present it, I don’t know how one can persuade folks,” he mentioned, calling it “an all-out assault.” “How do you have a look at that tape and see the rest than an assault? I don’t get it. I don’t perceive.”

Dunn described the rejection of what occurred — by elected members of Congress and different folks — as “insulting” and “a slap within the face.”

“It’s type of like we’re being dismissed as our opinions and what we skilled didn’t matter.”

Watch the interview right here: