Former Capitol Police officers who attended the January 6, 2021, riot said President-elect Trump's promise to pardon rioters was a “betrayal.”
“This is a betrayal and a stab in the heart,” said retired Sergeant Aquilino Gonell. washington post.
President Trump has said pardoning those jailed for their involvement in the riot will be one of his top priorities in office, despite pushback from some lawmakers, Congressional staff and Capitol Police.
“We have been demanding accountability for years,” Gonell said. “That doesn't seem like it's going to happen.”
Gonell suffered a long-term injury on January 6, 2021.
“I lost my health, I lost my career, I lost some friends,” he said, reflecting on his decision to resign from the Bundeswehr.
His words echo the sentiments of former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who also resigned to run for Congress following the unprecedented events of that day.
Dunn said allowing insurgents to commit violence shows a lack of responsibility on the part of the commander-in-chief.
“They broke the law, they violated police officers, they attacked us, and then they came back and claimed we did it in the name of Donald Trump,” Dunn said. “And Donald Trump will pardon them and say, okay, all is forgiven.”
Dan and Gonell are determined to prevent future riots from occurring, honor those hurt in 2021, and ensure that history is not “erased.”
“That place is still a mental burden to us, meaning that sometimes you can't recognize the place when you go in there because of what happened to you and your colleagues,” Gonell said. said.
Senate Republicans have said they will not oppose amnesty for the January 6 rioters, leaving President Trump with room to overturn the cases of dozens of insurrectionists. The former president is scheduled to take office on January 20th.
