Officer Fanone and Sergeant Gonell Denounce Trump’s Commitment to Pardoning January 6th Insurrectionists

“MAGA Republicans are emboldened to continue rewriting history and discrediting what we all witnessed that day.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention, former President Donald Trump doubled-down on his commitment to pardon January 6th insurrectionists who were convicted for their attack on the Capitol, which resulted in the deaths of five police officers, and left another 140 injured. Courage for America Councilmembers Sgt. Aquilino Gonell and former Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone, both of whom were severely injured while defending the Capitol on January 6th, and Arizonan activist Rev. Dr. Cathy Patterson released the following statements:

“Attacks against our democracy should never be pardoned or forgiven under any circumstance,” said Sergeant Aquilino Gonell. “Once again, former President Trump made clear that he never cared about the more than 140 police officers who could have lost their lives defending the Capitol on January 6th. I refuse to be silent on this matter when my life and those of my colleagues were in jeopardy because of him and his enablers, who continue to be a threat to our democracy. Trump, Speaker Johnson and their MAGA colleagues, despite their alleged support for the rule of law, continue to lay the groundwork for another insurrection.”

“Trump is doing what he does best: lying about what happened on January 6th and defending the violent criminals that he incited to attack the U.S. Capitol,” said Former Metropolitan Police Department Officer Michael Fanone. “MAGA Republicans are emboldened to continue rewriting history and discrediting what we all witnessed that day. Now more than ever we must hold MAGA extremists accountable for the threat they continue to pose to our democracy. January 6, 2025 is fast approaching, and I remain committed to telling my story to hold these bastards accountable.”

“I am proud to serve on this council with individuals who risked their lives to defend our democracy,” said Rev. Dr. Cathy Patterson. “The gall and audacity displayed at a venue full of esteemed Black journalists, while committing to pardon convicted insurrectionists and sowing more division in this country, only demonstrates what we have all known for a long time – MAGA extremism continues to be the greatest threat to our democracy.”

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