Two officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6 faced boos and walkouts from Republicans in the Pennsylvania statehouse as they toured the chamber, according to several lawmakers in attendance.
Republicans mocked former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and former U.S. Capitol Police sergeant. Aquilino Gonell, who were introduced by state House Speaker Joanna McClinton on Wednesday as part of her tour of Pennsylvania to discuss the threat they say former President Donald Trump poses to democracy.
Lawmakers’ responses to the visiting officers underscore the deep divide between how the parties view the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, as Democrats praised the former officers’ heroism and Republicans booed, according to people present.
“All Democrats stood and applauded the officers, while most Republicans remained seated — while not applauding — began booing or left the room,” Majority Caucus Chairman Mike Schlossberg said in a statement. “I want to make it clear that there were absolutely Republican members who applauded and took a stand. But the majority did not.”
Dunn and Gonell strongly denounced the Jan. 6 attack and criticized Trump’s rhetoric, and both invoked the former president in their statements about Wednesday’s demonstrations.
Both said it was “sad, though not surprising” that Trump’s allies “followed his example in mocking the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and embracing political violence.”
“This is exactly why we are here campaigning for President Biden – because we and so many Americans are deeply concerned that history will repeat itself if Trump is not stopped,” they noted in statements.
Gonell told NBC News it was “shocking but not surprising” that Trump-supporting lawmakers treated them this way.
“They just came out, started making fun of us and turned their backs on us,” Gonell said. “They literally turned their backs on us and will probably go on TV and say they support the police.”
House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler said he “spoke personally with both former officers” on Wednesday, adding in the statement that he and other Republicans also took photos with the pair.
Cutler attacked Democrats for using “their politicized actions in the House Chamber to raise funds for their campaign coffers,” referring to a fundraising email sent Wednesday.
Across the aisle, Democrats attacked Republicans on X, calling their actions “a shameful show of disrespect for heroes” and “despicable behavior“, common legislator writing that “there is no bottom”.
Rep. Greg Scott, a Democrat, said he was “in complete shock” at the Republicans’ actions.
“I hear them talk about being the party of law and order,” he said. “They would like the world to think they are the party that supports blue – but yesterday they made that clear. They only support the orange man.”
State Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, also a Democrat, said the Republicans’ behavior was not partisan but rather “the behavior of someone in a cult.”
“It was an embarrassing and inexcusable display of rude behavior toward those heroic officers,” Bizzarro said in a message to NBC News.
Gonell testified that he thought he might have died on Jan. 6 and detailed the injuries suffered in the attack, some of which required surgery. He was repeatedly assaulted by several rioters and spoke at the sentencing hearings of several of his attackers.
Dunn testified about facing racist insults on January 6. He encountered members of the Oath Keepers and testified during a seditious conspiracy trial involving members of the group.
Congress canceled the March 2023 deadline for installing a plaque honoring officers who responded to the Jan. 6 attack.
This story originally appeared on NBCNews.com read the full story
