Page 11 - Sergeant Gonell News Today

Was every single body here in this capitol, their intent was to get them out and hurt them. it would have been a much different outcome had we not stopped them, especially at the lower west terrace entrance. even though at that time we didnt know that that was -- there were other breaches in the capitol. our intent was to stop whoever was trying to come in through that door. those weapons that were used, those were common items, and the way they were using it was as weapons. >> let me ask in my ...

It made a tremendous difference for our country. officer dunn, i did hear you about the need for additional help and i want to pledge to you that we will work with the capitol police to make sure that the resources, the mental health unit has the resources that officers need. i will make that pledge to you right now. i would like to ask sergeant gonell, not everybody knew you were fighting in the hallway on the lower west terrace on january 6th. can you tell me what you went through in that hall...

Sergeant gonell, i wont ask you to repeat your experience, and i would like the public to see video from your perspective if you are comfortable with me showing it. >> thats fine. >> roll that, please, clerk. >> you are going to die tonight. . >> show them how to lock the shields together and hold the shields. >> go ahead! [ inaudible ] >> back up! no! stop! stop!

Conviction to do their part by investigating what happened on the terrible day and why. this investigation is essential to our democracy and im deeply grateful to you for undertaking it. im happy to assist as i can, and answer any questions you may have, to the best of my ability. thank you. >> thank you very much for your riveting testimony, sergeant gonell. i recognize officer fanone to summarize his testimony. >> thank you, mr. chairman and members of this committee for inviting me to provide...

Post" journalists phil rucker and carol leonnig. what stood out to you? what resonated with you after listening to todays committee hearing? >> well, its so compelling, isnt it, to hear the officers describe what they actually went through on january 6th. phil and i were in mar-a-lago in late march listening to donald trump describe a loving crowd who were ushered in by the capitol police warmly and who were hugging and kissing. the officers weve heard from today in this hearing, including most ...

Peril. i will say that we will persevere, we will do what is right and our nation is truly ever grateful to you who held that line. your actions on january 6th could very well have been what saved our democracy and we thank you. mr. chair, i yield back. >> thank you. the gentleman from maryland asked a question in terms of what you would expect this committee to do in our body of work. sergeant gonell responded, but we didnt give the other three members an opportunity to kind of tell us based on...

Again, most of the people that were there, they were telling us, they were telling me what their intentions were and thats why we held out the line at the lowest entrance that day in the tunnel. >> sergeant gonell what do republican lawmakers say to you or your colleagues when they see you face-to-face about the turn this has taken? >> i have not met any of them yet. i spoke out about a month ago right after they voted against the independent committee to find out or begin the process of try to ...

Some of them. all i could think was, we cant let these people in. theres going to be a slaughter inside. >> reporter: rioters beat sergeant gonell so badly, they cut his hand, and he needed foot surgery. while he fended off the attack outside, officer byron evans locked down areas inside the capitol and evacuated senators. did you ever think this might be a life-or-death situation for you? >> i remember specifically thinking it when i was on the floor. i remember thinking all that stuff like, by...

Tell his wife hed survived. >> i started testixting my wife and what i said to her, im okay. see you whenever. >> reporter: congress resumed certifying the electoral college votes that night. sergeant gonell arrived back home around 3:00 a.m. january 7th but found little relief. >> when i came in, she wanted to hug me, and i told her no because i was covered in -- i was discovered in pepper spray. my hands were bleeding still, and i even -- i couldnt even sleep because i went and took a

I would do it again if i have to. its my job. >> reporter: sergeant gonell led members of the departments civil disturbance unit. for hours they battled insurrectionists attacking the capitol. this video shows his fight on the west front. >> they kept saying, trump sent me. we wont listen to you. we are here to take over the capitol. we are here to hang mike pence. they thought we were there for them, and we werent. so they turned against us. it was very scary because i thought i was going to lo...