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only way to keep our democracy was to, quote, fight like hell. it was clear even in the chaos of that moment that january 6 was a day that would change this country. i have been texting with a congressman. i asked if he is okay. he said he is okay now. i'm trying to get more information about what might have happened. that right there is an unbelievable and disturbing sight coming out of our capitol in washington, d.c. on a day where we should be doing something that's procedural. you can hear how frazzled my voice was in the moment. among the many officers attacked on that day was police officer michael fanone who almost died. retired officer fanone joins me. his book is "hold the line, the insurrection and one cop's battle for america's soul."
look at what is going on. that is why the president talks about freedom. the freedom over your own body, the freedom to walk safely on the streets. the senator spoke so eloquently about people walking along the streets with ar-15s. we can't do better. we, democracy is truly on the ballot. that is why i am so excited about getting out there and on the campaign trail to help joe biden. because truly, when he said that this is a battle for america's soul, he was right. and that battle continues. >> there are multiple frames here, right, there is the freedom frame, there is the right frame, more rights, not less. and i also think it is interesting, you said something which i've heard in the presidents messaging, which is 2024 being about a choice between him, joe biden, and maga republicans. maga specifically. i wonder how democrats are looking at the electorate and thinking about who it is they
successful with the seditious conspiracy charges against oath keepers, so they feel pretty good about this trial. >> evan perez, thank you so much. let's bring in michael fanone, a cnn law enforcement analyst and police officer who almost died at the hands of that pro-trump mob as he tried to defend the capitol during the january 6th insurrection two years ago. he's also the author of "hold the line: the insurrection and one cop's battle for america's soul" and he is fresh off a visit to the white house where he was one of 14 people to receive one of the highest honors given to civilians, the presidential citizens medal. first of all, congratulations on that. >> thank you. >> that's pretty cool. your girls are here. were they in the audience? >> they were. >> did they get to see? >> they did. they got to meet the president. fantastic. >> and people might not know this, but you voted for trump. here you are with joe biden. was that weird, or has this all
out across the national mall. in the growing darkness we could seat blinking red lights of the washington monument in the distance. we didn't say a word. we just hugged. that is where we begin this hour with michael fanone, author of the new book "hold the line." and one cop's battle for america's soul. it is so nice to get to talk to you. i don't know if you know this, we play anything you say anywhere in another network's interview, as part of the 1/6 testimony, so our viewers are very familiar with you, but we've never had a chance to talk to you, so thank you for being here. >> i appreciate you take position the time to have me on. >> how are you doing? >> i'm hanging in there. >> i was going to ask you, i talked to a member of the 1/6 committee staff about having you guys in the room and i said how
fanone's body cam footage shows how he tried to fight back, being tasers repeatedly, leading him to have a heart attack. "hold the line: the insurrection and one cop's battle for america's soul." michael fanone joins us now. you talked to the judge today about mercy for your attacker. what did you say? >> i asked judge ami bey berman jackson to show albuquerque head the same amount of mercy he showed me on january 6th, which for those of you living under a rock, was done. >> just shy of the eight-year maximum. is that enough in your view? >> listen, i don't typically comment on the sentences that
battle for america's soul". thank you so much for being here. watching that video that we just showed at the top of the show, i was wondering what you were thinking as someone who responded and risked their lives to protect the capitol that day and protect the people inside of there. when you hear what they had to say, the people in that video, do you put the blame on the leaders of this country for spewing the garbage that these people believe, or do you put the blame on the people who were there that day or both? >> both. ultimately we're all responsible for our own actions, and, you know, ignorance is not a defense when you participate in an insurrection to overthrow the government. that being said, one of the reasons why i've been out here speaking publicly about accountability for january 6th is that, you know, while we've made arrests and we're, you
sometimes, you know, our criticism amongst ourselves is the most damaging. >> that's really sad. and it's really sad that you've been treated that way by the people you were trying to advocate for. michael fanone, thanks for coming onto talk about it. michael's new book is called "hold the line: the insurrection and one cop's battle for america's soul". thanks again. >> thank you. we have a lot to cover tonight. could rising tensions over oil do lasting damage to the u.s./saudi relationship. i'll talk to the spokesman here in washington. and with the president's approval rating at 43%, what are the democrats chance of holding the house. families are reeling from rising prices and turning to food banks for help.
insurrection and one in calk's battle for america's soul. you know, this book is incredible, the culmination, think about all the conversations we've been having overtime, we heard you talk about, to see it all on paper, to see it when -- it's astonishing. you felt compelled to write, it tell me why. >> i'll tell you, the main reason was i got tired of trying to get out, you know, to have substantive conversations about things like january 6th and my experiences. and also policing and police reform. and you know, in 60 or 92nd sound bites. which i mean, unfortunately, is kind of how things work in the cable news arena. >> we noticed, the soundbite world. >> so, i was looking for a longer form, like, a different platform to kind of compile all of those thoughts and get it out there. >> so, you say some things in
insurrection and one in cop's battle for america's soul. you know, this book is incredible, the culmination, think about all the conversations we've been having over time, we heard you talk about, to see it all on paper, to see it when -- it's astonishing. you felt compelled to write, it tell me why. >> i'll tell you, the main reason was i got tired of trying to get out, you know, to have substantive conversations about things like january 6th and my experiences. and also policing and police reform. and you know, in 60 or 90 second sound bites. which i mean, unfortunately, is kind of how things work in the cable news arena. >> we noticed, the soundbite world. >> so, i was looking for a longer form, like, a different platform to kind of compile all of those thoughts and get it
it was individual officers acting in their own volition. in many situations. who, like myself, self dispatched and went there and fought for hours. >> i mean, that's what you've done. when you did was extraordinary. and we know there's others like you, and our hope is that they feel empowered to come out and speak about their experiences. but unless that happens, left with terrifying accounts like the one in your book. michael fanone, thank you for sharing this. thank you for your sacrifices so far on behalf of preserving our democratic institutions. the book is out today. it's called hold the line, the insurrection and one cop's battle for america's soul. thanks for coming on. >> yes, ma'am. thanks for having me. >> we have more ahead this hour. i'll talk to one of the very few reporters to speak with attorney general merrick