Capitol Police officer recounts Jan. 6 assault: Unique

The primary time Harry Dunn stepped contained in the U.S. Capitol additionally occurred to be his first day as a Capitol Police officer.

“The rotunda … you simply search for and it simply goes up without end — it is simply an incredible architectural constructing,” Officer Dunn instructed ABC Information’ Chief Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas. “It is onerous to not be in awe of it if you see it.”

Dunn stated the rotunda now not resembled the room he as soon as knew on Jan. 6, the day of the siege on the Capitol.

“This time you search for, it is only a cloud of smoke, fireplace extinguishers have been going off,” Dunn recalled strolling into the room quickly after combating off a mob of offended rioters. “The flooring are lined in white mud, water bottles, damaged flagpoles, masks, empty canisters of pepper spray, helmets, Trump flags, all the pieces within the rotunda, simply laying there on the ground.”

Dunn remembers gasping for air by means of the pepper spray and bear mace, blood on his knuckles and the relentless noises from the rioters. He quickly discovered himself in tears, being consoled by a fellow officer who requested him what had occurred amidst the chaos.

“’I acquired known as a [N-word] a pair dozen occasions as we speak defending this constructing,’” Dunn recalled telling his colleague. “Is that this America? They beat law enforcement officials with Blue Lives Matter flags. They fought us, they’d Accomplice flags within the U.S. Capitol.”

Dunn is a 13-year veteran within the U.S. Capitol Police Division. Talking just for himself and never the division, Dunn is the primary U.S. Capitol Police officer to talk publicly in regards to the occasions of Jan. 6.

The unique interview will air Monday morning on “Good Morning America” and subsequent Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET on a brand new ABC Information primetime journal known as “Soul of a Nation,” a collection that examines the Black lived expertise in America.

Throughout former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment listening to, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., quoted Dunn from a Buzzfeed article, through which Dunn shared his story anonymously a number of days after the rebellion.

“Is that this America?” stated Rep. Raskin, echoing Dunn’s phrases on the Senate flooring.

“It took me again to a darkish place as a result of I did not say it for a catchphrase — I wasn’t making an attempt to create a slogan,” stated Dunn. “I wrestle… ought to I be proud? No, in no way.”

Dunn doesn’t know if his phrases have been efficient through the trial, however he needs they didn’t should be stated in any respect.

“These have been my emotions and that was my fact — it wasn’t a proud second. It took me again to a darkish place,” he stated.

Dunn doesn’t mince phrases when describing the pro-Trump rioters who stormed the Capitol.

“They have been terrorists,” Dunn instructed ABC Information. “They tried to disrupt this nation’s democracy — that was their purpose… And you realize what? Y’all failed as a result of later that night time, they went on they usually licensed the election.”

Dunn praised his fellow officers, together with officer Brian Sicknick, who died through the rebellion — describing him as a “courageous” and “devoted officer. Dunn additionally lent reward to officer Eugene Goodman, whose heroics have been caught on digital camera that day.

“There have been dozens of Eugene Goodmans that day,” stated Dunn. “Eugene acquired caught on digital camera and I am not shocked that he did the best factor, the courageous factor, the heroic factor — there have been so many Eugene Goodmans that weren’t caught on digital camera that day. … and I am proud to work with all of them.”

The Capitol Police Division has fallen beneath scrutiny because the assault. Many are questioning whether or not there was a scarcity of preparedness and the actions taken, or not taken, from high administration within the days and moments main as much as the Jan. 6 assault.

The Capitol Police Workplace of Skilled Duty is investigating 35 Capitol Cops for his or her actions on Jan. 6, based on an announcement issued by the division. Six officers have been suspended with pay and Appearing Chief Yogananda Pittman has directed that members of the division whose habits is just not in line with the Capitol Police guidelines of conduct will “face acceptable self-discipline,” the assertion stated.

Former Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee, former Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger and former Home Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving are anticipated to look earlier than a Senate listening to in what would be the first public testimony on the Capitol breach to this point.

Pittman is scheduled to look earlier than a Home Appropriations Committee on Thursday.

“Everyone desires to know what may have been completed in a different way, as a result of that should not have occurred,” stated Dunn. “[I’ll] watch for the investigation to be accomplished formally and never draw conclusions about one thing of this magnitude — I am going to simply go away it at that.”

ABC Information’ Jack Date contributed to this report.