Ex-Capitol Police Sergeant Implores Trump Not To Make An ‘Outrageous Mistake’ | EUROtoday

A former U.S. Capitol Police officer who suffered severe accidents within the Jan. 6 riot mirrored on his trauma and implored Donald Trump to not pardon his attackers in a New York Times op-ed marking 4 years because the violence.

Former Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who left the police power in 2022 as a result of psychological and bodily harm he sustained on Jan. 6, 2021, recalled, “I thought I was going to die and never make it home to see my wife and young son” within the article revealed Sunday, the eve of the anniversary.

“Over the last four years, it’s been devastating to me to hear Donald Trump repeat his promise to pardon insurrectionists on the first day he’s back in office,” he wrote, noting that Trump has referred to these convicted as “hostages” and “peaceful protesters.”

“But all of us who were there and anyone who watched on TV know that those who stormed the Capitol were not peaceful protesters,” Gonnell mentioned. “Pardoning them would be an outrageous mistake, one that could mean about 800 convicted criminals will be back on the street.”

Gonnell additionally mentioned pardons may endanger him, “as I’ve continued to testify in court and I’ve given victim statements in cases against dozens of the rioters who assaulted me and my fellow officers.”

Gonell and different ex-law enforcement officers — comparable to Harry Dunn and Michael Fanone — who’ve spoken out in regards to the violence they survived have confronted vitriol and hate from election deniers and Trump supporters because the president-elect and his allies whitewash the occasions of Jan. 6.

More than 1,500 folks have been criminally charged in connection to the riot on the Capitol during which greater than 140 law enforcement officials have been assaulted. It is estimated that the assault brought about tens of millions of {dollars} in harm.

A latest HuffPost evaluation discovered that almost all of people who find themselves nonetheless incarcerated over Jan. 6 are those that attacked police, possessed weapons or explosives, or dedicated different violent felonies.

“Releasing those who assaulted us from blame would be a desecration of justice,” Gonell wrote. “If Mr. Trump wants to heal our divided nation, he’ll let their convictions stand.”

He slammed the “ongoing whitewashing” and “collective amnesia of right-wing politicians who aren’t willing to hold Mr. Trump accountable.”

“Mr. Trump is returning to the presidency at 78, while I had to leave the career I’d worked for my whole life at 42 as a result of injuries suffered while doing my job,” Gonnell added.

“I sometimes wonder why I risked my life to defend our elected officials from a mob inspired by Mr. Trump, only to see him return to power stronger than ever. It’s hard to witness a rich white man get rewarded for treachery while I’m punished for fulfilling my duty.”

Congress meets on Monday to certify Trump’s election victory 4 years after a mob of his supporters laid siege to the Capitol in an try to halt that course of for President Joe Biden’s 2020 win.

Read Gonell’s full article in The New York Times.