GONELLO.
I RECOGNIZE OFFICER FANONE FOR
HIS TESTIMONY
>> THANK YOU, MR. CHAIRMAN, AND
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE, FOR
INVITING ME TO PROVIDE MY EYE
WITNESS TESTIMONY OF THE VIOLENT
ASSAULT OF OUR NATIONS CAPITOL
ON JANUARY 6th, 2012
MY NAME FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW
IS MICHAEL FANONE.
WHILE IVE BEEN A SWORN OFFICERS
WITH THE METROPOLITAN POLICE
DEPARTMENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
FOR TWO DECADES MY LAW
ENFORCEMENT CAREER BEGAN IN THIS
BUILDING AS A UNITED STATES
CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER SHORTLY
AFTER 9/11
IN PART, BECAUSE OF THE 2001
ATTACK ON OUR COUNTRY BY
TERRORISTS, I FELT CALLED TO
SERVE.
AS A CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER I
WAS PROUD TO PROTECT THIS
INSTITUTION AND DEDICATED
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THEIR
STAFF WHO WORK HARD EACH DAY TO
UPHOLD OUR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY.
I REMAIN PROUD OF THE WORK OF
THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE
AND MPD OFFICERS WHO LITERALLY
COMMIT THEIR LIVES TO PROTECTING
THE SAFETY OF EACH OF YOU AND
ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM
IN OUR NATIONS CAPITOL.
AFTER LEAVING THE UNITED STATES
CAPITOL POLICE I BECAME AN MPD
OFFICER SERVING THE RESIDENTS OF
THE WASHINGTON, D.C.
I HAVE SPENT THE MAJORITY OF MY
NEARLY 20 YEARS AS A
METROPOLITAN POLICE OFFICER
WORKING IN SPECIAL MISSION UNITS
WHOSE RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE
THE INVESTIGATION AND ARREST OF
NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS AND
VIOLENT CRIMINALS.
I HAVE WORKED BOTH AS AN
UNDERCOVER OFFICER AND A LEAD
CASE OFFICER IN MANY
INVESTIGATIONS
IN IN LINE OF WORK IT PROBABLY
WONT SHOCK YOU TO KNOW IVE
DEALT WITH SOME DICEY
SITUATIONS
I THOUGHT I HAD SEEN IT ALL.
MANY TIMES OVER.
YET WHAT I WITNESSED AND
EXPERIENCED ON JANUARY 6th, 2021
WAS UNLIKE ANYTHING I HAD EVER
SEEN, ANYTHING I HAD EVER
EXPERIENCED OR COULD HAVE
IMAGINED IN MY COUNTRY
ON THAT DAY, I PARTICIPATED IN
THE DEFENSE OF THE UNITED STATES
CAPITOL FROM AN ARMED MOB -- AN
ARMED MOB OF THOUSANDS
DETERMINED TO GET INSIDE,
BECAUSE I WAS AMONG THE VASTLY
OUTNUMBERED GROUP OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS PROTECTING
THE CAPITOL AND THE PEOPLE
INSIDE IT, I WAS GRABBED,
BEATEN, TAZED WHILE BEING CALLED
A TRAITOR TO MY COUNTRY.
I WAS AT RISK OF BEING STRIPPED
OF AND KILLED WITH MY OWN
FIREARM AS I HEARD CHANTS OF
KILL HIM WITH HIS OWN GUN.
I CAN STILL HEAR THOSE WORDS IN
MY HEAD TODAY.
ALTHOUGH I REGULARLY DEAL WITH
RISKY SITUATIONS ON THE JOB,
NOWHERE IN MY WILDEST
IMAGINATION DID I EVER EXPECT TO
BE IN THAT SITUATION OR SITTING
HERE BEFORE YOU TALKING ABOUT
IT
THAT EXPERIENCE AND ITS
AFTERMATH WERE NOT EVEN
SOMETHING MY EXTENSIVE LAW
ENFORCEMENT TRAINING COULD
PREPARE ME FOR
I WAS JUST ONE OF HUNDREDS OF
LOCAL POLICE WHO LINED UP TO
PROTECT CONGRESS EVEN THOUGH I
HAD NOT BEEN ASSIGNED TO DO
THAT
SOME HAD ASKED WHY WE RAN TO
HELP WHEN WE DIDNT HAVE TO.
I DID THAT BECAUSE I SIMPLY
COULD NOT IGNORE WHAT WAS
HAPPENING.
LIKE MANY OTHER OFFICERS, I
COULD NOT IGNORE THE NUMEROUS
CALLS, NUMEROUS CALLS FOR HELP
COMING FROM THE CAPITOL COMPLEX.
IM A PLAIN CLOTHES OFFICER
ASSIGNED TO THE FIRST DISTRICTS
CRIME SUPPRESSION TEAM
BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN NEARLY
A DECADE, I PUT ON MY UNIFORM.
WHEN MY PARTNER AND I ARRIVED
AROUND 3:00 THAT AFTERNOON IT
WAS LIKE UN -- IT WAS UNLIKE ANY
SCENE I WITNESSED.
JIMMY PARKED OUR POLICE VEHICLE
NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF KOUGT
CAPITOL STREET AND D STREET
SOUTHEAST AND WE WALKED TO THE
CAPITOL, FROM PASSING THE LONG
WEATHER HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING. EERILY EQUITY AND THE SIDEWALKS
EERILY EQUITY AND THE SIDEWALKS
USUALLY FILLED WITHO PEDESTRIANS
POLICE BACCARDAX WERE ABANDONED
AND HUNDREDS OF ANGRY
PROTESTERS, MANY OF WHOM TAUNTED
US AS WE WALKED TOWARDS THE
CAPITOL BUILDING
JIMMY AND I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO
SEARCH FOR OF AN AREA WHERE WE
COULD OF MOST ASSISTANCE
WE MADE OUR WAY THROUGH A DOOR
ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE
CAPITOL.
WALKING THEN TO THE CRYPT AND
FINALLY DOWN TO THE LOWER WEST
TERRACE TUNNEL
IT WAS THERE THAT I OBSERVED A
POLICE COMMANDER STRUGGLING TO
BREATHE AS HE DEALT WITH THE
EFFECTS OF CS GAS THAT INJURED
IN THE AIR
THEN I WATCHED HIM COLLECT
HIMSELF, STRAIGHTEN HIS CAP AND
TRENCH COAT ADORNED WITH SILVER
EAGLES AND RETURN TO THE LINE.
THAT COMMANDER WAS RAYME KYLE OF
THE METROPOLITAN POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THOSE IMAGES ARE
ETCHED IN MY MEMORY NEVER TO BE
FORGOTTEN.
IN THE MIDST OF THAT CHAOTIC
SCENE COMMANDER KYLE REMAINED
COOL, CALM AND COLLECTED AS HE
GAVE COMMANDS TO OFFICERS, HOLD
THE LINE HE SHOUTED OVER THE
ROAR
OF COURSE, THAT KAY, THE LINE
WAS THE SEAT OF OUR AMERICAN
GOVERNMENT, DESPITE THE
CONFUSION AND STRESS OF THE
SITUATION OBSERVING RAYS
LEADERSHIP PROTECTING A PLACE I
CARED SO MUCH ABOUT, WAS THE
MOST INSPIRATIONAL MOMENT OF MY
LIFE
THE BRAVERY HE AND OTHERS SHOWED
THAT DAY ARE THE BEST EXAMPLES
OF DUTY, HONOR AND SERVICE
EACH OF US WHO BADGE SHOULD
BRING THOSE CORE VALUES TO OUR
WORK EVERY DAY
THE FIGHTING IN THE LOWER WEST
TERRACE TUNNEL WAS NOTHING SHORT
OF BRUTAL.
HERE I OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 30
POLICE OFFICERS STANDING
SHOULDER TO SHOULDER, FOUR OR
FIVE ABREAST, USING THE WEIGHT
OF THEIR BODIES TO HOLD BACK THE
ONSLAUGHT OF VIOLENT ATTACKERS
MANY OFFICERS WERE INJURED,
BLEEDING ABFATIGUED.
BUT THEY CONTINUED TO HOLD THE
LINE
AS I DONT HAVE TO TELL THE
MEMBERS IN THIS ROOM, THE TUNNEL
IS A NARROW AND LONG HALLWAY,
NOT THE SORT OF SPACE ANYONE
WANT TO BE PULLED INTO HAND TO
HAND COMBAT WITH AN ANGRY MOB.
ALTHOUGH THE NARROWNESS OF THE
HALLWAY PROVIDE WHAT WAS THE
ONLY CHANCE OF HOLDING BACK THE
CROWD FROM ENTERING FOR PERSONAL
OFFICES, THE HOUSE AND SENATE
CHAMBERS
IN AN ATTEMPT TO ASSIST INJURED
OFFICERS JIMMY AND I ASKED THEM
IF THEY NEEDED A BREAK
THERE WERE NO VOLUNTEERS
SELF-LESSLY, THOSE OFFICERS ONLY
IDENTIFIED OTHER COLLEAGUES WHO
MAY BE IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE
THE FIGHTING DRAGGED ON.
I EVENLY JOINED THE TACTICAL
LINE AT THE TUNNELS ENTRANCE.
I CAN REMEMBER LOOKING AROUND
AND BEING SHOCKED BY THE SHEER
NUMBER OF PEOPLE FIGHTING US
AS MY POLICE BODY WORN CAMERA
SHOWS, THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE SEEMINGLY DETERMINED
TO GET PAST US BY ANY MEANS
NECESSARY.
AT SOME POINT DURING THE
FIGHTING I WAS DRAGGED FROM THE
LINE OF OFFICERS AND INTO THE
CROWD.
I HEARD SOMEONE SCREAM, I GOT
ONE.
AS I WAS SWARMED BY A VIOLENT
MOB THEY RIPPED OFF MY BADGE,
GRABBED AND STRIPPED ME OF MY
RADIO, SEIZED AMMUNITION SECURED
TO OH MY BODY.
THEY BEGAN TO BEAT ME WITH THEIR
FISTS AND WHAT FELT LIKE HARD
METAL OBJECTS.
AT ONE POINT I CAME FACE-TO-FACE
WITH AN ATTACKER WHO REPEATED
LUNG AT ME AND ATTEMPTED TO
REMOVE MY FIREARM.
I HEARD CHANTING FROM SOME, GET
HIM WITH HIS GUN AND KILL HIM
WITH HIS OWN GUN
I WAS AWARE ENOUGH TO RECOGNIZE
I WAS AT RISK OF BEING STRIPPED
OF AND KILLED WITH MY OWN
FIREARM.
I WAS ELECTROCUTED AGAIN AND
AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH A TAZER
IM SURE I WAS SCREAMING, BUT I
DONT THINK I COULD EVEN HEAR MY
OWNS VOICE
MY BODY CAMERA CAPTURED THE
VIOLENCE OF THE CROWD DIRECTED
TOWARDS ME DURING THOSE VERY
FRIGHTENING MOMENTS.
ITS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE
RECORD FOR THIS COMMITTEES
INVESTIGATION AND THE COUNTRYS
UNDERSTANDING HOW I WAS
ASSAULTED AND NEARLY KILLED AS
THE MOB ATTACKED THE CAPITOL
THAT DAY
AND I HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL BE
ABLE TO WATCH IT
THE PORTIONS OF THE VIDEO I HAVE
SEEN REMAIN EXTREMELY PAINFUL
FOR ME TO WATCH AT TIMES
BUT IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT
EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS WHAT REALLY
HAPPENED THAT TRAGIC DAY
DURING THOSE MOMENTS, I REMEMBER
THINKING THERE WAS A VERY GOOD
CHANCE I WOULD BE TORN APART OR
SHOT TO DEATH WITH MY OWN
WEAPON
I THOUGHT OF MY 40 DAUGHTERS WHO
MIGHT LOSE THEIR DAD
I REMAIN GRATEFUL NO MEMBER OF
CONGRESS HAD TO GO THROUGH THE
VIOLENT ASSAULT I EXPERIENCED
THAT DAY
DURING THE ASSAULT, I THOUGHT
ABOUT USING MY FIREARM ON MY
ATTACKERS.
I KNEW IF I DID I WOULD BE
QUICKLY OVERWHELMED.
AND THAT IN THEIR MINDS WOULD
PROVIDE THEM WITH THE
JUSTIFICATION FOR KILLING ME
SO I INSTEAD DECIDED TO APPEAL
TO ANY HUMANITY THEY MIGHT HAVE.
I SAID AS LOUD AS I COULD
MANAGE, IVE GOT KIDS.
THANKFULLY SOME IN THE CROWD
STEPPED IN AND ASSISTED ME
THOSE FEW INDIVIDUALS PROTECTED
ME FROM A CROWD AND INCHED ME
TOWARD THE CAPITOL UNTIL MY
FELLOW OFFICERS COULD RESCUE ME.
I WAS CARRIED BACK INSIDE.
WHAT HAPPENED AFTERWARDS IS MUCH
LESS VIVID
I HAD BEEN BEATEN UNCONSCIOUS
AND REMAINED SO FOR MORE THAN
FOUR MINUTES
I KNOW THAT JIMMY HELPED TO
EVACUATE ME FROM THE BUILDING
AND DROVE ME TO MED STAR
HOSPITAL, DESPITE SUFFERING
SIGNIFICANT INJURIES HIMSELF
AT THE HOSPITAL DOCTORS TOLD ME
THAT I HAD SUFFERED A HEART
ATTACK AND I WAS LATER DIAGNOSED
WITH A CONCUSSION, TRAUMATIC
BRAIN INJURY AND PTSD.
AS I MY INJURES SUBSIDED AND THE
ADRENALIN DRAIN.
I WAS LEFT WITH THE TRAUMA OF
HAVING SURVIVED SUCH A HORRIFIC
EVENT.
AND MY CHILDREN CONTINUE TO DEAL
WITH THE TRAUMA OF NEARLY LOSING
THEIR DAD THAT DAY
WHAT MAKES THE STRUGGLE HARDER
AND MORE PAINFUL IS TO KNOW SO
MANY OF MY FELLOW CITIZENS,
INCLUDING SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE
I PUT MY LIFE AT RISK TO DEFEND
ARE DOWNPLAYING OR OUTRIGHT
DENYING WHAT HAPPENED.
I FEEL LIKE I WENT TO HELL AND
BACK TO PROTECT THEM AND THE
PEOPLEIN THIS ROOM
BUT TOO MANY ARE NOW TELLING ME
THAT HELL DOESNT EXIST, OR THAT
HELL ACTUALLY WASNT THAT BAD.
THE INDIFFERENCE SHOWN TO MY
COLLEAGUES IS DISGRACEFUL.
MY LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER
PREPARED ME TO COPE WITH SOME OF
THE ASPECTS OF THIS EXPERIENCE
BEING AN OFFICER, YOU KNOW YOUR
LIFE IS AT RISK WHENEVER YOU
WALK OUT THE DOOR, EVEN IF YOU
DONT EXPECT OTHERWISE
LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS TO TAKE UP
ARMS AGAINST YOU
BUT NOTHING, TRULY NOTHING, HAS
PREPARED ME TO ADDRESS THOSE
ELECTED MEMBERS OF OUR
GOVERNMENT WHO CONTINUE TO DENY
THE EVENTS OF THAT DAY
AND IN DOING SO, BETRAY THEIR
OATH OF OFFICE
THOSE VERY MEMBERS WHO LIVES,
OFFICES, STAFF MEMBERS, I WAS
FIGHTING SO DESPERATELY TO
DEFEND
I AGREED TO PEEK HERE TODAY AND
TALKED PUBLICLY ABOUT WHAT
HAPPENED BECAUSE I DONT THINK
OUR RESPONSE TO THE INSURRECTION
SHOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH
POLITICAL PARTIES.
I KNOW THAT WHAT MY PARTNER
JIMMY AND I SUITED UP FOR ON
JANUARY 6th DIDNT HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH POLITICAL PARTIES
OR ABOUT POLITICS OR WHAT
POLITICAL PARTY ANY OF YOU
PUBLIC SERVANTS BELONG TO.
IVE WORKED IN THIS CITY FOR TWO
DECADES AND NEVER CARED ABOUT
THOSE THINGS
NO MATTER WHO WAS IN OFFICE.
ALL IVE EVER CARED ABOUT IS
PROTECTING YOU AND THE PUBLIC.
SO YOU CAN DO YOUR JOB IN
SERVICE TO THIS COUNTRY AND FOR
THOSE WHOM YOU REPRESENT
I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND
ATTENTION.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE
COMMITTEES INVESTIGATION.
AND I AM HOPEFUL WITH YOUR
COMMITMENT WE AS A COUNTRY WILL
CONFRONT THE TRUTH OF WHAT
HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th.
AND DO WHAT IS NECESSARY TO MAKE
SURE THIS INSTITUTION OF OUR
DEMOCRACY NEVER FALLS INTO HANDS
OF A VIOLENT AND ANGRY MOB
WE MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE THE
OFFICERS WHO RESPONDED THAT DAY,
MANY UNSOLICITED IN THEIR
COUNTLESS ACTS OF BRAVERY AND
SELF-LESSNESS.
IT HAS BEEN 202 DAYS SINCE 850
MPD OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE
CAPITOL AND HELPED STOP A
VIOLENT INSURRECTION FROM TAKING
OVER THIS CAPITOL COMPLEX.
WHICH ALMOST CERTAINLY SAVED
COUNTLESS MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
AND THEIR STAFF FROM INJURY AND
POSSIBLY DEATH
THE TIME TO FULLY RECOGNIZE
THESE OFFICERS IS NOW.