During a tense moment at a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Republican Representative Troy Nehls of Texas attempted to shift responsibility for the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot away from former President Donald Trump and toward Capitol Police officials. However, his comments were sharply interrupted by former Washington, D.C., police officer Michael Fanone, who suffered a severe beating at the hands of rioters that day.
The hearing, held on Thursday, featured testimony from Jack Smith, the former special prosecutor who led two unsuccessful prosecutions against Trump. Nehls addressed the law enforcement officers present, insisting that the blame for the violent attack did not rest with Trump.
“I can tell you gentlemen, that the fault does not lie with Donald Trump,” Nehls said, speaking directly to the officers who were on duty during the riot. He argued that the responsibility instead fell on the “US Capitol leadership team.” He added, “We know they had the intelligence,” suggesting that the failure to prevent the riot was due to internal planning shortcomings rather than presidential influence.
At that moment, Fanone — who was dragged, beaten, and nearly killed by the mob — interjected after a loud cough, delivering a blunt response. “F**k yourself,” he said, drawing immediate attention from the room.
Despite the interruption, Nehls continued his remarks, stating, “There was going to be a high propensity for violence that day,” implying that the chaos was anticipated but not attributable to Trump.
Fanone was seated in the audience alongside three other officers who responded to the riot: Aquilino Gonell, Harry Dunn, and Daniel Hodges. All four have since become outspoken critics of Trump, citing their firsthand experiences during one of the most violent events in modern U.S. history.
Jack Smith, appearing publicly before lawmakers for the first time, expressed his own shock at the events of January 6. He warned that the lack of accountability for Trump’s actions poses ongoing risks to American democracy. Smith described the attempts to overturn the 2020 election as “criminal” and emphasized the potential long-term consequences of failing to hold perpetrators responsible.
“If we don’t hold people to account when they commit crimes, it sends a message that those crimes are acceptable, that society tolerates them,” Smith said. “This can jeopardize our election process, endanger election workers, and ultimately threaten the foundation of our democracy.”
The hearing highlighted the continued debate over responsibility for January 6, with lawmakers, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers all presenting contrasting perspectives on accountability, leadership failures, and the lasting implications for U.S. democratic institutions.
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