DC Police Officer slams Trump and politicians who “whitewash” and “downplay” seriousness of Capitol Riot

In an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon, DC Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who suffered a traumatic brain injury after being beaten with a flagpole by a mob of supporters of former President Donald Trump as they stormed the United States Capitol on January 6, hit former President Donald Trump and politicians who “whitewash” and “downplay” the seriousness of the Capitol uprising.

“It was very difficult to see elected officials and others whitewash or downplay what happened that day,” Fanone, a 19-year veteran of the force, said after Lemon asked for a response to the ex- The insurgents represented a “zero threat.” “Some of the terms used, such as” hugs and kisses “and” very good people “, are very different from what I and my staff experienced on the 6th. “

“I’ve seen a group of people try to kill me in order to achieve their goal,” he said. “I experienced the most brutal, wildest hand-to-hand combat of my entire life. Not to mention my police career, which lasted almost two decades. “

Fanone didn’t crush any words: “I want people to understand that thousands of rioters have come to the Capitol to commit violence, destruction and murder,” he said.

You can see his interview below.

Officer Michael Fanone tells @donlemon that it was very difficult to see elected officials what happened on January 6th.

He was stunned several times and beaten with a flagpole during the Capitol attack.

Check out Part 1 of his first in-depth interview: pic.twitter.com/4LzuJcfztl

– CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) April 28, 2021

Last month, Fanone’s mom Terry Fanone said it was her outraged by Trump’s claim that his supporters “hugged and kissed” officers during the attack.

“What goes through my head is really outraged,” she said to Don Lemon at the time. “For us, for our family and for every police officer with whom Michael is in constant contact, this is outrageous. It’s so dehumanizing. It’s so pejorative. “

“That doesn’t even tell the story,” she continued, referring to her son’s description of what happened that day, which left him with a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. “It doesn’t even begin to tell the story of what our family went through and what he went through that day.”

Trump insisted that his supporters pose “No threat” despite the violence that resulted in five deaths and many injuries.

“It wasn’t a threat from the start, it wasn’t a threat. See they went in, they shouldn’t have. Some of them went in and hugged and kissed the police and the guards, you know, they had great relationships, “Trump told Fox News’ Laura Ingraham. “Lots of people were waved in and then they went in and went out.”

Alan is a New York-based writer, editor, and news junkie.