Officers who Defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 Say Struggles Linger | Drudge Retort

Monday, January 05, 2026

Officers who Defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 Say Struggles Linger

As Donald Trump was inaugurated for the second time on Jan. 20, 2025, former Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell put his phone on "do not disturb" and left it on his nightstand to take a break from the news. That evening, after Gonell spent time with family and took his dog on a long walk, his phone started to blow up with calls.

Posted by LampLighter at 01:31 PM | 32 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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D.C. police officers experienced some of the most intense violence during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. We sat down with two of them to rewatch their body camera footage from that day. n.pr/4pjPwtV

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-- NPR (@npr.org) Jan 5, 2026 at 5:17 AM

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... He had messages from federal prosecutors, FBI agents and the federal Bureau of Prisons " all letting him know that the new president had just pardoned about 1,500 people who had been convicted for their actions at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The pardons included rioters who had injured Gonell as he and other officers tried to protect the building.

"They told me that people I testified against were being released from prison," Gonell said. "And to be mindful."

Gonell was one of the officers who defended the central West Front entrance to the Capitol that day as Congress was certifying Democrat Joe Biden's victory and hundreds of Trump's supporters broke into the building, echoing his false claims of a stolen election.

Gonell was dragged into the crowd by his shoulder straps as he tried to fight people off. He almost suffocated.

In court, he testified about injuries to his shoulder and foot that still bother him to this day.

"They have tried to erase what I did" with the pardons and other attempts to play down the violent attack, Gonell said. "I lost my career, my health, and I've been trying to get my life back."

Five years since the siege, Gonell and some of the other police officers who fought off the rioters are still coming to terms with what happened, especially after Trump was decisively elected to a second term last year and granted those pardons.

Their struggle has been compounded by statements from the Republican president and some GOP lawmakers in Congress minimizing the violence that the officers encountered. ...

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#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-04 09:10 PM | Reply

Ray Epps is responsible.

~ MAGA dumfux ~

#2 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-01-04 09:14 PM | Reply

Defended? Funny as I saw video of them with the doors standing with the door open to allow the protesters in, and even slowly walking with them in the building and they surely din not link endangered in any way. Guess tier dem leaning 'major media' failed to show you that video....

#3 | Posted by MSgt at 2026-01-05 02:26 PM | Reply

@#3 ... Defended? ...

Yes, defended.

... as I saw video of them ...

Cherry-picking the videos.

#4 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-01-05 02:31 PM | Reply

"I saw video of them"

Did you see the part where the cops told them to leave, and they tried to crush the cops to death?

Or do you only watch "news" outlets who keep that stuff from you???

#5 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-01-05 02:41 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 2

Defended? Funny as I saw video of them with the doors standing with the door open to allow the protesters in, and even slowly walking with them in the building and they surely din not link endangered in any way. Guess tier dem leaning 'major media' failed to show you that video....

#3 | Posted by MSgt

And you're so dumb that you think that video ERASES all the other videos of police officers being beaten by a rabid crowd of drooling maga incels.

#6 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-01-05 02:42 PM | Reply

That was a large crowd. Had to be terrifying.

#7 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-06 12:10 AM | Reply

That was a large crowd. Had to be terrifying.

#7 | Posted by BellRinger at

I'm a borderline Hall of Fame troll, Alexandrite. I easily elicit multiple responses with a single post. And it doesn't take any effort.
#27 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-04-06 05:42 PM

#8 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-06 12:22 AM | Reply

Remember to back the blue magat scum

#9 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-06 12:23 AM | Reply

" 9 | POSTED BY TRUTHHURTS AT 2026-01-06 12:23 AM | FLAG: "

I always have. You are part of the defund the police crowd and that they are mostly racist.

Sit this one out, hypocrite.

#10 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-06 12:42 AM | Reply

Twoothy is so dumb that he thinks me pointing out that a large crowd engaging in violence is somehow trolling.

Get back to wishing death and misery on Republicans.

#11 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-06 12:45 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

I'm a borderline Hall of Fame troll, Alexandrite. I easily elicit multiple responses with a single post. And it doesn't take any effort.
#27 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-04-06 05:42 PM

Remember when you posted that jeff?

#12 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-06 12:51 AM | Reply

Of course I do. When I'm in the mood to troll I'm like Pavlov ringing the bell (no pun intended). But what I've discovered since then is that I'm like Pavlov when I'm being serious or trying to just be funny. So I would say that I may have overstated my ability as a troll. For some reason my posts attract the attention of lots for reasons I don't fully understand. It's like moths flocking to light. And I'm not bragging. This is an observation.

#13 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-06 01:02 AM | Reply

Well here we are, the anniverary where the GOP became ball-less and wouldn't impeach a President for his lack of actions. And that's just his actions on Jan 6 - not even talking about what he did before and up to, and aftewards concerning his election loss.

So here we are, congratulations!

And to top it off, we now have Presidents who go unchecked with power. Literally.

#14 | Posted by brass30 at 2026-01-06 08:56 AM | Reply

Sit this one out, hypocrite.

#10 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

Good advice.

Bye.

#15 | Posted by Zed at 2026-01-06 09:19 AM | Reply

Today our heart goes out to unarmed casualties of law enforcement. In particular, we salute Ashli Babbitt and and George Floyd. Although on paper, they appear miles apart, they share a common thread. Law enforcement took the lives of these two (unarmed) individuals before they could reach the pinnacle of their true potential in life. While the world will never know the innovation, leadership or just plain greatness they could have bestowed upon us, we raise our glass of ale to them in memory in hopes that they're in a better place.

#16 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-01-06 11:00 AM | Reply

You're sick.

Floyd was murdered over 9 minutes while he begged for his mother. He was killed for passing off fake 20's.

Ashli Babbit participated in a bum rush on the capitol and was shot breaking through a barricade to get to our elected leaders. WTF is wrong with you?

#17 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-01-06 11:05 AM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

#3 | Posted by MSgt
And you're so dumb that you think that video ERASES all the other videos of police officers being beaten by a rabid crowd of drooling maga incels.

#6 | Posted by SpeakSoftly

Yes.

That idiot lives in a social media meme curated bubble of epic proportions.

#18 | Posted by jpw at 2026-01-06 11:15 AM | Reply

Anybody lamenting Ashli -------- is trash themselves.

#16 | Posted by lfthndthrds

Yeah, that checks out.

#19 | Posted by jpw at 2026-01-06 11:15 AM | Reply

You are part of the defund the police crowd and that they are mostly racist.

Sit this one out, hypocrite.

#10 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

Are you saying some police depts don't have serious problems with misconduct, excessive force, corruption, and systemic failures?

You need to ---- this one out -------. Don't forget to wipe.

#20 | Posted by donnerboy at 2026-01-06 11:22 AM | Reply

You are part of the defund the police crowd and that they are mostly racist.
#10 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

Police got their start as runaway slave catchers.
What's racist about that?

#21 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-06 11:27 AM | Reply

"
#20 | POSTED BY DONNERBOY AT 2026-01-06 11:22 AM | REPLY | FLAG:"

Fix the corruption in the department. Don't kill the department.

#22 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-06 11:28 AM | Reply

When I'm in the mood to troll I'm like Pavlov ringing the bell (no pun intended). But what I've discovered since then is that I'm like Pavlov when I'm being serious or trying to just be funny.
#13 | Posted by BellRinger

So you never read your children the fable about The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

I believe that about you.

#23 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-06 11:57 AM | Reply

how stupid....

poor little "kitty"....shouldn't be a cop if he's that much of a 'kitty

THAT"S IF this is accurate and not more f/g lies from f/g liars.

#24 | Posted by shrimptacodan at 2026-01-06 12:46 PM | Reply

Get back to wishing death and misery on Republicans.
#11 | Posted by BellRinger

Here's wishing Republicans get everything they voted for!

USAid cuts resulting in death and misery.
ACA Subsidies ending resulting in death and misery.
Rollback of gun regulations resulting in death and misery.
Rollback of vaccine guidance resulting in death and misery.
Rollback of environmental standards resulting in death and misery.

#25 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-06 12:56 PM | Reply

That was a large crowd. Had to be terrifying.

#7 | Posted by BellRinger

Large crowds aren't terrifying. Large crowds of armed angry brainwashed incels who've been convinced to overthrow demcoracy by the world's most obvious con man are terrifying, at least if you're on the side of democracy, which you aren't.

#26 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-01-06 12:59 PM | Reply

Fix the corruption in the department. Don't kill the department.

#22 | Posted by BellRinger

Does that apply to USAID?

#27 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-01-06 01:00 PM | Reply

Today our heart goes out to unarmed casualties of law enforcement. In particular, we salute Ashli Babbitt and and George Floyd. Although on paper, they appear miles apart, they share a common thread.

#16 | Posted by lfthndthrds

My heart goes out to morons who equate selling loose cigarettes with attempting a fascist coup.

#28 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-01-06 03:03 PM | Reply

At least with Babbitt lefties finally stand behind a cop using lethal force.

In all other circumstances involving a minority, it's like Top Gun - Do not fire unless fired upon.

#29 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-06 03:17 PM | Reply

At least with Babbitt lefties finally stand behind a cop using lethal force.

In all other circumstances involving a minority, it's like Top Gun - Do not fire unless fired upon.

#29 | Posted by BellRinger

Patriots stand behind the defense of democracy.
Traitors are enraged by it.

#30 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-01-06 03:18 PM | Reply

And even then, only fire if the perp's bullet actually strikes you. If you are a white cop and the perp is black - don't fire at all, just allow yourself to be killed.

#31 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-06 03:18 PM | Reply

And even then, only fire if the perp's bullet actually strikes you. If you are a white cop and the perp is black - don't fire at all, just allow yourself to be killed.

#31 | Posted by BellRinger

Funny how it was masses of white morons trying to overthrow the constitution. But you get more upset about black people looting from a store.

#32 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2026-01-06 03:40 PM | Reply

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