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Wednesday 7 december 2022

Jan. 6 ‘heroes’ honored for defending Capitol from Trump mob

Continued from Front

To recognize the hundreds
of officers who were at the
Capitol on Jan. 6, the med-
als will be placed in four
locations — at U.S. Capitol
Police headquarters, the
Metropolitan Police De-
partment, the Capitol and
the Smithsonian Institution.
In signing the legislation last
year, Biden said that one
will be placed at the Smith-
sonian museum “so all visi-
tors can understand what
happened that day.”
Metropolitan Police Chief
Robert Contee said for
some officers Tuesday was
their first time visiting the
Capitol since that horrific
day, a scene filled with the
clanking sound of metal
steel flag poles being wield-
ed as weapons, “the air still
thick” with chemical sprays
as officers were assaulted
by the mob of Trump sup-
porters.
“Many of us still carry the
mental, physical and emo-
tional scars,” Contee said.
“It was your blood, your
sweat and your tears that From left, Serena Liebengood, widow of U.S. Capitol Police officer Howie Liebengood, former Washington Metropolitan Police
marked these grounds,” he Department officer Michael Fanone Washington Metropolitan Police Department officer Daniel Hodges, U.S. Capitol Police Sgt.
said. Aquilino Gonell and U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Harry Dunn listen as the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the
Contee said the medal for U.S. Capitol holds a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Oct. 13, 2022. Associated Press
the city’s police officers
who rushed to help their among Pelosi’s last cer- a House hearing last year Trump supporters who suf- Republican leader Kevin
Capitol Police allies defend emonial acts as she pre- spoke openly about the fered medical emergen- McCarthy and Senate Ma-
the dome that day was pares to step down from lasting mental and physical cies. Two police officers jority Leader Chuck Schum-
symbolic of their “contribu- leadership. When the bill scars, and some detailed died by suicide in the days er attended the ceremony
tions not just to Washing- passed the House more near-death experiences. that immediately followed, and awarded medals.
ton, D.C., but to the entire than a year ago, she said Metropolitan Police Officer and a third officer, Sick- The Congressional Gold
country on Jan. 6.” the law enforcement of- Daniel Hodges described nick, collapsed and later Medal, the highest honor
U.S. Capitol Police Chief ficers from across the city foaming at the mouth, died after one of the rioters Congress can bestow, has
Thomas Manger called it defended the Capitol be- bleeding and screaming sprayed him with a chemi- been handed out since
“a day unlike any other in cause they were “the type as the rioters tried to gouge cal. A medical examiner 1776. Previous recipients in-
our nation’s history. And for of Americans who heard out his eye and crush him determined he died of nat- clude George Washington,
us. It was a day defined by the call to serve and an- between two heavy doors. ural causes. Sir Winston Churchill, Bob
chaos, courage and tragic swered it, putting country Metropolitan Police Of- Several months after the Hope and Robert Frost. In
loss.” The ceremony at the above self.” ficer Michael Fanone, who attack, in August 2021, the recent years, Congress has
Capitol comes as Demo- Dozens of the officers who rushed to the scene, said Metropolitan Police an- awarded the medals to
crats, just weeks away from fought off the rioters sus- he was “grabbed, beat- nounced that two more of former New Orleans Saints
losing their House major- tained serious injuries. As en, tased, all while being their officers who had re- player Steve Gleason, who
ity, race to finish a nearly the mob of Trump’s sup- called a traitor to my coun- sponded to the insurrection became a leading advo-
18-month investigation of porters pushed past them try.” Capitol Police Officer had died by suicide. The cate for people struggling
the insurrection. and into the Capitol, police Harry Dunn said a large circumstances that led to with Lou Gehrig’s disease,
Without support from GOP were beaten with Ameri- group of people shouted their deaths were unknown. and biker Greg LeMond.
leadership, Democrats and can flags and their own the N-word at him as he The June 2021 House vote Signing the bill at the White
just two Republicans have guns, dragged down stairs, was trying to keep them to award the medals won House last year, Biden said
led the probe and vowed sprayed with chemicals from breaching the House widespread support from the officers’ heroism can-
to uncover the details of and trampled and crushed chamber. both parties. But 21 House not be forgotten.
the attack, which came by the crowd. Officers suf- At least nine people who Republicans voted against The insurrection was a “vio-
as Trump tried to overturn fered physical wounds, in- were at the Capitol that it — lawmakers who had lent attempt to overturn the
his election defeat and en- cluding brain injuries and day died during and af- downplayed the violence will of the American peo-
couraged his supporters to others with lifelong effects, ter the rioting, including a and stayed loyal to Trump. ple,” and Americans have
“fight like hell” in a rally just and many struggled to woman who was shot and The Senate passed the leg- to understand what hap-
before the congressional work afterward because killed by police as she tried islation by voice vote, with pened, he said. “The hon-
certification. they were so traumatized. to break into the House no Republican objections. est and unvarnished truth.
Awarding the medals is Four officers who testified at chamber and three other Pelosi, McConnell, House We have to face it.”q