Officer Fanone has been very open about his experiences on the Capitol. He has spoken to quite a few media retailers. He has spoken with representatives from each events. He lately testified beneath oath for the earlier than the Home choose committee investigating the Jan. 6 revolt. Fanone sat down with TIME journal reporter Molly Ball at his mom’s house in Virginia. He sat once more for a taping of his reactions to video footage recorded from the revolt because it occurred.
His purpose is easy: Officer Fanone needs lawmakers and regulation enforcement to acknowledge the fact of what occurred. As Fanone defined to TIME, “There’s individuals on either side of the political aisle which can be like, ‘Hear, Jan. 6 occurred, it was dangerous, we have to transfer on as a rustic.’ What an conceited fucking factor for somebody to say that wasn’t there that day.”
Going again to the morning of January sixth, Fanone—who voted for Trump however is aware of he misplaced the 2020 election—explains what occurred:
He heard after which noticed the red-hat sporting “Cease the Steal” mob heading all the way down to the Capitol constructing, and suited up—voluntarily—to assist provide assist to his fellow Capitol and D.C. Metro Law enforcement officials making an attempt to guard a whole department of our authorities from a violent coup.
In response to footage from the assault, Fanone says, “This isn’t an organized response. That is officers combating for his or her lives.” Fanone went on to explain the moments etched into his thoughts like a nightmare, of being pulled out and dragged down the steps, whereas being tased and crushed.
“I bear in mind vividly serious about the people, you understand, who have been surrounding me and assaulting me, a few of whom have been making an attempt to come up with my gun. And I bear in mind considering ‘Nicely, they’re making an attempt to kill me. Lethal pressure is an possibility right here. However is it the most suitable choice for me to outlive this example?’ And finally I concluded it was not. … I appeared for different means to outlive, and so I instructed them I had children.” He says that’s actually the very last thing he remembers.
Right here is Officer Fanone, simply days after January 6, talking with CNN about his experiences on the Capitol constructing.
Conservatives like Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia, who described the Jan. 6 revolt as a “regular vacationer go to,” have infuriated regulation enforcement officers who risked their lives on the Capitol. Rep. Clyde’s abjectly false description of the day’s occasions, rejected by actuality and hours of footage and reporting, is the height of cynicism. Images of Clyde’s face, whereas barricaded within the Home of Consultant’s chambers present that, until Mr. Clyde’s understanding of a sightseeing jaunt contains pooping one’s pants, Mr. Clyde shouldn’t be telling the reality. In fact, since there may be constructing proof that high-profile Republicans like Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona might have had a hand within the group of the occasions of main as much as the “Cease the Steal” rally’s descent into sedition and violence, it’s no shock the conspirators are closing ranks.
Fanone tells TIME that in a gathering with GOP members, he heard them discuss about how a lot they supported police, particularly with regard to the Black Lives Matter motion. Fanone says he instructed them, “You guys don’t appear to have an issue once we’re kicking the shit out of Black individuals. However once we’re kicking the shit out of white individuals, uh-oh, that’s a problem.”
“What must occur is there must be a reckoning,” Fanone says. So say all of us.