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Family members of a police officer who died as a result of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol refused to shake hands with Republican leaders at a Gold Medal ceremony from Congress to law enforcement.
Gladys Sicknick, the mother of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick, said Republican leaders’ commitment to promoting Donald Trump’s false narratives about the insurgency that led to her son’s death has took priority over assisting the approximately 140 law enforcement officers injured during the attack. .
According to the district’s chief medical examiner, Sicknick died of natural causes a day after being hit twice while confronting members of a violent mob trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
“They only have two faces,” he told CNN Tuesday after the awards ceremony. “I’m tired of them standing there and saying how wonderful the Capitol Police are and then they turn around and go down to Mar-a-Lago and kiss his ring and come back.”
“It just, it just hurts,” Sicknick added.
Republicans and Democrats came together Tuesday to award Congressional Gold Medals, Congress’ highest honor, to all law enforcement officers who protected lawmakers while defending the U.S. Capitol during the 6 January, including members of the US Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police.
About 140 law enforcement officers were injured when rioters attacked them with flagpoles, baseball bats, stun guns, bear spray and pepper spray. In dramatic remarks, D.C. Police Chief Robert J. Contee III said Tuesday’s event was the first time many officers had returned to the Capitol complex since the uprising.
“Many of us still carry the physical, mental and emotional scars after that crowd of thousands launched a violent assault in an attempt to stop the counting of election ballots,” Contee said. “The sound of metal poles and other objects hitting bodies, helmets and shields can still be loud, the air is still full of spray and other chemicals, making it difficult for our officers to see and breathe “.
After family members received their medals, they shook hands with Democratic leaders — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (DN. Y.). Gladys Sicknick received a kiss from Schumer. Family members ignored an outstretched hand from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and walked past House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
A spokesman for McCarthy had no immediate comment. McConnell, questioned about the incident Tuesday afternoon, focused on the officers and the awards.
“I would respond by saying that today we gave the gold medal to the heroes of January 6,” he told reporters. “We admire and respect them. They put their lives in danger and that’s why we gave a gold medal today to the heroes. of January 6”.
On January 6, 2021, a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent Congress from counting the electoral votes that claimed Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election.
Immediately afterward, McConnell and McCarthy condemned the attack and pointed to Trump as the culprit. But weeks later, McCarthy refused to vote to impeach Trump on charges of inciting insurrection, and McConnell voted to acquit Trump after a Senate trial.
McCarthy later traveled to Mar-a-Lago to meet with Trump.
Sicknick’s family lobbied Congress to establish an independent commission to investigate the attack. McCarthy opposed the creation of the panel, and in the Senate, all Republicans joined in the opposition. Pelosi and Democrats moved to create a bipartisan committee to investigate, although McCarthy refused to cooperate.
After the ceremony, Ken Sicknick, the late official’s brother, said his refusal to shake hands with Republican leaders was self-explanatory given his loyalty to Trump.
“Whatever Trump has on them, they’ve stepped back, they’ve danced,” he told CBS. “They won’t admit to Trump’s misconduct, to the rioters.”
Last week, Trump expressed his solidarity with the crowd that attacked the Capitol, sending a video of support to a fundraising event organized by a group called the Patriot Freedom Project, which supports the families of those prosecuted by the government .
“It’s disgusting,” Sicknick said of Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.), who gave Simone Gold, a rioter, a flag waved over the U.S. Capitol after her release from prison. “It takes away the heroism that my brother showed.”
Ken Sicknick, praised Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) for her work on the committee investigating the Jan. 6 attacks, but criticized Republicans who refused to explore how the insurgency happened and Trump’s role .
“Unlike Liz Cheney, they have no idea what integrity is,” he said explaining why GOP lawmakers don’t deserve a handshake. “They cannot defend what is right and what is wrong.”
“With them, it’s party first,” Sicknick added.
McCarthy has indicated that when Republicans take the majority next month, they will investigate the work of the Jan. 6 committee.
On Tuesday, he praised law enforcement across the country for their “essential brotherhood.”
“Putting on the badge means putting yourself in harm’s way to protect others, to keep the country safe,” McCarthy said. “These brave men and women are heroes, heroes who protected so many from harm that day. Heroes who follow the code to protect and serve. Heroes who do the noble work. Too many people take that for granted.”
McConnell praised law enforcement officers for sacrificing their lives so lawmakers could fulfill their commitment to certify the election by declaring Biden president.
“Because of your bravery and professionalism, Congress finished our job that very night,” he said. “Because you honored your oaths to support and defend the Constitution, we were able to honor ours. This is a reality that became particularly clear 23 months ago. But it’s true every day.”
“Thanks for having our backs,” McConnell added. “Thank you for saving our country. Thank you for being not only our friends, but our heroes.”
In another incident, former D.C. officer Michael Fanone, who was seriously injured on Jan. 6 and is an outspoken and well-recognized defender of the police who defended the Capitol, said members of his own force mocked- lo and they made fun of him during the ceremony.
Fanone said that as he walked to a bathroom as guests were seated before the ceremony began, a member of the department’s Special Operations Division grabbed his hands in a plaque shape and said sarcastically: “Here he is, the great American hero. Thank you for gracing us with your presence.” Fanone said he turned around and saw that he was swearing.
Fanone said he left but later returned to confront the officer, who he said was among a group from the Civilian Police Unit. Fanone said he told the officer, “Not on this day, of all days, and if you want to talk about it, we can go out.” He said other members of the unit taunted him, telling him he “wasn’t a policeman anymore” and calling him a “disgrace”.
Fanone said a sergeant intervened and warned him “not to talk to your cops like that.”
Fanone said other officers separated the group and he left.
After the ceremony, Fanone said Contee gave him his gold medal. “I respect the hell out of that guy,” Fanone said of the boss, adding, “He made my day.”
Fanone has been outspoken since days after the uprising, in which he was seriously injured after being dragged into the crowd and beaten unconscious and threatened with death. But his candor in the media and with others has earned him a reputation within the ranks of his own department, he has said, virtually ostracized by those who dislike the publicity he seeks and receives, and others he says give silent support for Trump.
Dustin Sternbeck, chief spokesman for the D.C. Police Department, said the event “was a great honor for the Metropolitan Police Department.” He added: “We are not focused on any individual. We are focused on the contributions of an entire department that saved Democracy on January 6, 2021.”