Police officers who responded to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and some of their family members pointedly declined to shake the hands of Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy as they accepted Congressional Gold Medals.
Officers shook hands with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer as they accepted the medals, but walked right past the House and Senate Republican leaders — despite McConnell outstretching his hand.
All senior congressional leaders were participating in the event to honor U.S. Capitol Police officers, Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police and others who responded during the riot.
Pelosi said prior to awarding the medals at a ceremony that took place in the Capitol Rotunda,
May this medal — the highest honor that Congress can bestow — serve as a token of our nation’s deepest gratitude and respect: not as full but as a token.”
Among those who walked past McConnel & McCarthy were the family of Brian Sicknick, a U.S. Capitol Police officer who died in the days following the attack and later lay in honor in the Capitol.
Police officers have criticized McCarthy’s response following the attack, including former D.C. officer Michael Fanone, who suffered a traumatic brain injury and a heart attack in the riot and secretly recorded a meeting with the House Republican leader.
Some House Republicans have downplayed the seriousness of the attack, and McCarthy has personally minimized Trump’s role in stoking the mob.
McConnell has called the Jan. 6 attack a “violent insurrection,” but also joined McCarthy and other Republicans in voting against the establishment of a bipartisan commission to investigate the riot.
McConnell also voted against convicting Trump in his second impeachment trial over the former president’s role in Jan. 6.
Watch.
BREAKING: Moments ago at a Congressional Gold Medal ceremony for Jan. 6 police, the reward recipients refused to shake hands with Republican leaders Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy.
— Dark Brandon (@DarkBrandon2020) December 6, 2022
I could watch this 1000 times on repeat! pic.twitter.com/N914g51qe4
(via Politico)
