Dems push for resolution to condemn Trump over J6 pardons
House Democrats and the family of a U.S. Capitol Police officer who tragically lost his life after confronting rioters during the Jan. 6 insurrection are speaking out against President Donald Trump’s actions related to the unrest. U.S. Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman, Bennie Thompson, and Jamie Raskin, along with the family of Brian Sicknick, gathered in front of the U.S. Capitol to call for a resolution condemning Trump over his blanket pardons for the Jan. 6 defendants and the firing of federal prosecutors involved in the cases.
Raskin expressed outrage over the pardons granted by Trump to individuals charged in the riot, some of whom were accused of violently assaulting police officers. He criticized the administration for firing FBI agents and prosecutors who were simply doing their jobs. Raskin pointed out the hypocrisy of Trump’s initial denouncement of the rioters, only to later downplay the severity of the events of January 6th.
Thompson echoed Raskin’s sentiments, noting that the prosecutors who diligently worked on the Jan. 6 cases were being unfairly scapegoated by the Trump administration. He emphasized the injustice of rewarding those who attacked law enforcement officers while punishing those who were working to uphold the rule of law.
Ken Sicknick, the brother of fallen Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, expressed the pain and anger that Trump’s pardons have caused his family. He described how the pardons reopened wounds from his brother’s tragic death and lamented the lack of remorse shown by many of the defendants released.
Brian Sicknick, who suffered two strokes and died of natural causes after being sprayed with a chemical substance during the riot, was remembered as a dedicated officer who bravely stood against the violent mob. Ken Sicknick emphasized the powerlessness felt by his family in the face of the President’s actions, highlighting the stark contrast between their small blue-collar family and the leader of the nation.
Coleman raised concerns about the purge of Justice Department veteran prosecutors, warning that it would benefit criminal groups engaged in drug trafficking and terrorism. She stressed the importance of these prosecutors in combating various forms of crime and expressed fear that their removal would weaken efforts to protect the country from threats.
The collective message from House Democrats and the Sicknick family is one of frustration, disappointment, and a call for accountability. They are demanding justice for Brian Sicknick and all law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect the Capitol on that fateful day. Their voices serve as a reminder that the events of January 6th must not be distorted or whitewashed, and those responsible must be held accountable for their actions.
