DC police officer attacked on Jan. 6 slams GOP officials downplaying violence: ‘It's disgraceful’

DC police officer Michael Fanone appeared on “CNN Tonight With Don Lemon” Thursday, where he discussed the newly released bodycam footage of him being attacked outside the Capitol building on January 6th.

“I knew, like at that moment, I was up s*** creek without a paddle,” Fanone said. “I just remember, you know, excruciating pain and screaming out, and I remember the fear of losing control at that moment.”

In and around the Capitol that day, a mob of Donald Trump's supporters hoping to stop Congress from certifying President Biden’s victory over Trump, violently clashed with police officers like Fanone, who suffered a heart attack and concussion after being beaten and shocked with a stun gun.

The new footage was released Wednesday and it was hard for Fanone to watch. He told Lemon, “I think that was like the most difficult time that I've had since the 6th reliving that experience. I don't know if it was because it was, you know, right there on television or what the case, but, yeah, it broke me.”

Recently, several Republican lawmakers have been downplaying the violence of the attack, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. And having been a victim of the violence, Fanone had no patience for the politician's revisionist rhetoric.

“Those are lies,” Fanone said. “Peddling that bulls*** is an assault on every officer that fought to defend the capitol. It's disgraceful.”

Video Transcript

DON LEMON: At the beginning of your body cam footage, you can hear someone in the crowd yell, "I got one." Did you realize that you were a target?

MICHAEL FANONE: Oh, yeah, no. I knew at that moment, I was up [BEEP] creek without a paddle.

KYLIE MAR: DC police officer Michael Fanone appeared on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon Thursday, where he reacted to the newly released body cam footage of him being attacked outside the Capitol building on January 6.

MICHAEL FANONE: I think that was the most difficult time that I've had since the sixth, reliving that experience. But yeah, it was-- yeah, it broke me.

KYLIE MAR: In and around the Capitol that day, a mob of Donald Trump supporters, hoping to stop Congress from certifying President Biden's victory over Trump, violently clashed with police officers like Fanone, who suffered a heart attack and concussion after being beaten and shocked with a stun gun.

MICHAEL FANONE: I just remember excruciating pain and screaming out. And I remember the fear of losing control at that moment.

KYLIE MAR: Recently, several Republican lawmakers have been downplaying the violence of the attack, which resulted in multiple deaths and injuries. And having been a victim of the violence, Fanone had no patience for the politician's revisionist rhetoric.

MICHAEL FANONE: Those are lies. And peddling that bull [BEEP] is an assault on every officer that fought to defend the Capitol. It's disgraceful.