Pelosi honors Jan. 6 police officers as 'martyrs of democracy'

At a press conference on Friday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi addressed the ongoing House select committee investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The speaker honored the law enforcement officers who died as a result of the riot, calling them "martyrs of democracy."

Video Transcript

NANCY PELOSI: Again, our work to protect our democracy continues with the select committee to investigate January 6. This week we learned now it's up to five officers who defended democracy on January 6 have died. This week the Congress honored their service. It was wonderful that the bill that we sent over to the Senate was passed by the Senate so that the President of the United States could sign it.

He and the vice president spoke so beautifully and powerfully about the debt we owe our Capitol Police. They are heroes to us. And we're very sad about those who have lost their lives, those who have-- all who risk their lives, those who still have ongoing effects, both trauma-wise and physically as well.

So again, we're very pleased to-- just to never forget Brian Sicknick, his mother was there. Howie Liebengood, his family was there. And the President acknowledged that his father was the-- had been the Sergeant of Arms in the Senate years ago. Jeffrey Smith, Gunther Hashida, Kyle DeFreytag, I mean, these are martyrs of democracy.