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| Officer Michael Fanone testified he was knocked unconscious and suffered a heart attack. (Photo by= EPA) |
[Asia News = Reporter Reakkana] A police officer who defended the US Capitol during a riot by Donald Trump supporters on 6 January has said he feared he would be crushed by the mob, BBC reported."This is how I'm going to die," a tearful Aquilino Gonell told a Congressional committee as an inquiry opened into the Washington DC attack. Another officer, Harry Dunn, who’s black, said he’s racially abused.
The inquiry in the House Select committee is being conducted almost entirely by Democrats after most Republicans boycotted the proceedings. However, two Republicans, Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, have broken ranks to join the investigation. On Tuesday, four police officers described being beaten and assaulted by rioters who had come to disrupt the certification by Congress of President Joe Biden's election victory. Mr Kinzinger, one of the only Republicans who voted to impeach Mr. Trump for his role in the riot, appeared to hold back tears as he criticised his colleagues.
At least 535 rioters have been arrested since the attack that left five dead, including one police officer. Prosecutors have so far secured only a few convictions. The assault led to the political impeachment and acquittal of Republican Mr Trump, who was accused by lawmakers of inciting the riot, a claim he has repeatedly denied.
