Michael Fanone, a former District of Columbia police officer who was attacked by a mob at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, said he feels betrayed by President Trump's pardon for the rioters.
“I was betrayed by my country and I was betrayed by those who supported Donald Trump, whether I voted for him because he promised a pardon or because I knew this was going to happen. And here we are,''' he told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Monday night. “Tonight, the six people who assaulted me just as I did my job on January 6th will be released, along with hundreds of other law enforcement officers.”
He also criticized Republicans for their role in supporting law enforcement and President Trump.
“I think the Republican Party has a monopoly on hypocrisy when it comes to support, or perceived support, for law enforcement, because tonight, Republican leaders pardoned hundreds of violent police assaulters,” Fanone said. Because I did,” he said.
He was among several people who received preemptive pardons from President Biden on Monday morning.
Fanone criticized the fact that he had to receive the pardon in the first place, saying he had not contacted the White House about the pardon beforehand.
“All I can say is that I think it's a sad commentary on where we are as a nation that a sitting president would find it necessary to pre-emptively pardon a witness in a Congressional investigation. Because the target of that investigation is now the president.''Again, this is just one example of the outrageous behavior of the current president of the United States,'' he said.
He went on to express concern for his family's and his own safety, noting that his entire family has received threats since testifying before a House committee on January 6.
