‘F**k yourself,’ former MPD officer says to GOP lawmaker after being beaten during the January 6 riot
A heated exchange unfolded during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, where Republican Representative Troy Nehls attempted to shift blame for the January 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Police officials, away from President Donald Trump. This move was met with a powerful response from Michael Fanone, a former Washington, DC, police officer who was severely beaten by rioters that day.
The incident occurred as Jack Smith, the former special prosecutor who led two failed prosecutions against Trump, testified before the committee. During the hearing, Nehls, from Texas, stated, 'The fault does not lie with Donald Trump' while addressing law enforcement officers who responded to the riot. He placed the blame on the 'US Capitol leadership team.'
However, Fanone, who was dragged out and brutally beaten by a crowd of rioters during one of the most violent clashes, had a different perspective. He interrupted Nehls with a loud 'F**k yourself.' Fanone, along with three other officers deployed at the Capitol that day, Aquilino Gonell, Harry Dunn, and Daniel Hodges, have since become vocal Trump critics.
The hearing also featured Jack Smith, who expressed shock at the attack on the Capitol and warned of ongoing threats to US democracy due to the lack of accountability for Trump's 'criminal' attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Smith emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for their crimes to maintain the integrity of the election process and democracy.
This incident highlights the intense emotions and differing views surrounding the January 6 events, with Fanone's outburst serving as a stark reminder of the physical and emotional toll endured by those who defended the Capitol that day.
