Former Capitol police officers emerge as busy Harris campaign surrogates

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Former Capitol constabulary serviceman addresses DNC

Retired Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell describes unit of Jan. 6 onslaught successful DNC address 02:37

At 6 feet 7 inches, erstwhile U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn had to slouch somewhat erstwhile he said beneath nan navy bluish canopy and greeted Democratic Party volunteers pinch a "what's up, y'all?" Speaking successful Gaston County, North Carolina, earlier this month, nan erstwhile James Madison University shot subordinate was a acquainted look to nan crowd.

Talking pinch volunteers who were preparing to spell doorway to doorway for Vice President Kamala Harris and different Democratic candidates, Dunn said his run efforts this twelvemonth person been an effort "to move lemons into lemonade." He was referring to nan riot astatine nan U.S. Capitol connected Jan. 6, 2021.

Dunn recounted his efforts to repel nan rioting mob that day. He said rioters had hurled group epithets astatine him and he's knowledgeable trauma from that day. He told North Carolina Democrats that each of nan constabulary who responded Jan. 6 are heroes.

The crowd applauded erstwhile Dunn said, "The No. 1 point we person to do is extremity Donald Trump." The erstwhile president continues to make baseless claims astir nan Capitol riot and nan 2020 election.

Since nan Jan. 6 riot, Dunn has testified earlier Congress and successful tribunal for immoderate of nan prosecutions of Jan. 6 defendants, and he's written a book astir his experience. His expanding fame has made him a celebrated surrogate for candidates — successful nan aforesaid convention arsenic immoderate Democratic governors and members of Congress.

Days aft his North Carolina trip, Dunn traveled to Freeport, New York, and stood beneath nan ductwork of an aged edifice that's been converted into a impermanent run agency for legislature campaigner Laura Gillen. She's a Democrat trying to triumph a Republican-held U.S. House spot connected Long Island. Her squad called connected Dunn to thief mobilize statement volunteers.

That aforesaid week, he was connected shape talking to Democratic activists successful Nevada, and here, his remarks were a small spicier.

"I return pridefulness successful stopping that M*er," utilizing an acronym for a vulgarity for erstwhile President Donald Trump.

Day Three Of The 2024 Democratic National Convention

Dunn and his erstwhile colleague, retired Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, person go celebrated and progressively omnipresent run surrogates for Democrats arsenic nan predetermination approaches. In nan 4 years since nan Jan. 6 riot, Gonell, for illustration Dunn, became a vocal professional of Trump's actions aft nan 2020 election, and has besides testified astatine nan Jan. 6 House hearings.

Democratic candidates are capitalizing. Gonell told CBS News, "I've been to Arizona, Nevada and to nan Pennsylvania authorities Legislature. I've been criss-crossing Pennsylvania, including nan Lehigh Valley, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg."

Gonell, who retired aft suffering injuries to his ft and enarthrosis from rioters during nan insurrection, has recorded a caller campaign ad for Vice President Kamala Harris. In nan ad, Gonell looks straight astatine nan camera and references nan rioters and Trump, "Donald Trump calls them warriors. And those of america who defended nan Capitol, he insults us. And that's nan difference. The oath that we took to take sides our populist we return seriously. He does not."

Gonell told CBS News he's besides being deployed to mobilize Latino voters successful Pennsylvania. Democratic pollster Matt Barreto posted connected societal media astir Gonell's defense for Harris. "In each of our research, undecided Latino voters are telling america that Trump's support of Jan. 6 is simply a span excessively far," he wrote. Both Dunn and Gonell besides attended and said astatine nan Democratic normal successful August.

Dunn told CBS News, "For truthful galore people, Jan. 6 is simply a frontline issue. One of nan reasons it is applicable is because Donald Trump keeps bringing it up. Republicans opportunity Democrats request to get complete it. But Donald Trump brings it up astatine each rally. I would emotion thing much than to not person to talk astir Jan. 6 anymore."

Seated astatine a array astatine an Arizona bookstore astatine a run extremity to support Democratic U.S. Senate campaigner Ruben Gallego, Dunn talked astir nan injuries suffered by immoderate of nan much than 140 officers injured connected Jan. 6. As cameras recorded nan event, Dunn accused Gallego's opponent, Kari Lake, of perpetuating nan type of predetermination denialism that gave emergence to nan Capitol siege.

Gonell, who has testified astatine nan tests and sentencing hearings of Jan. 6 criminal defendants, lambastes Trump friends for referring to nan Jan. 6 rioters arsenic "peaceful protesters" and Trump for his caller declare that nan Capitol riot was a "day of love."

Gonell told CBS News, "I person been telling my communicative and reminding group astir nan ramifications of Jan. 6," erstwhile he was beaten while connected nan frontlines of nan battle successful a Capitol tunnel.

"It is conscionable maine doing what I tin to clasp group accountable," he said.

Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who served connected nan House Jan. 6 committee and is moving for a U.S. Senate seat, has received run assistance from Gonell. In a run fundraising pitch, Gonell praised Schiff, penning that he "fought relentlessly to uncover nan truth astir nan Jan. 6 insurrection and to make judge that those who incited unit against our state are held to account."

Gonell told CBS News he expects to decorativeness nan run play pinch elector outreach successful Latino communities successful Pennsylvania.

Schiff told CBS News, "Sgt. Gonell is utilizing his sound to promote Americans to ballot to protect our populist successful this captious election. And I will ever beryllium profoundly grateful for his efforts to support maine and my colleagues — Democrats and Republicans — safe connected Jan. 6, and his bravery and work connected 1 of nan darkest days successful our country's history."

Dunn, who unsuccessfully sought nan Democratic information for a U.S. House spot successful Maryland successful May, has besides launched a governmental action committee to connection fundraising and endorsements for Democratic candidates. Gillen, nan Long Island Democrat seeking nan New York 4th District Congressional seat, precocious received Dunn's endorsement.

Dunn besides has besides pushed backmost successful cablegram news interviews against Trump's caller claims astir nan Capitol attack.

"I'm not conscionable going to fto group dishonesty and opportunity it was a 'day of love' aliases that it wasn't a large deal," he said.

Another erstwhile serviceman who protected nan Capitol connected Jan. 6 has been advocating successful nan runup to nan election. is erstwhile Washington, D.C., constabulary serviceman Michael Fanone, who says he's not affiliated pinch a governmental run but has been helping an statement that advocates for elected leaders to guarantee a serene transportation of power.

The organization, Courage for America, confirmed that Fanone and Gonell person taken portion successful astir 50 events crossed nan state focused connected nan upcoming elections. Fanone has besides been tasked pinch outreach and interviews successful section and nationalist media to stock his experiences from nan Capitol attack, which refute nan claims of immoderate Republicans and Trump that it was a serene and patriotic protest.

Fanone was knocked unconscious and brutalized by a group of rioters, 1 of whom was accused of stealing his badge and power during nan attack.

"It's bully to spot that location are group from each walks of life and each crossed nan state who are arsenic concerned arsenic I americium astir nan early of democracy," Fanone said.

Fanone, who besides testified earlier nan Jan. 6 prime committee, told CBS News, "We really person mislaid thing arsenic a state that we mightiness not get backmost for a generation. We've mislaid compassion and empathy and nan expertise to beryllium civilian to 1 another."

Scott MacFarlane

Scott MacFarlane is simply a legislature correspondent. He has covered Washington for 2 decades, earning 20 Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards. His reporting has resulted straight successful nan transition of 5 caller laws.

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