On Jan. 6, 2021, approximately 10,000 people attempted to stop the peaceful transfer of power, urged on by President Trump.

They violently assaulted the U.S. Capitol and some of them violently assaulted more than 140 police officers guarding the Capitol with a variety of weapons.

I know all this to be true because I was one of those officers.

Crushed, beaten, and with an eye gouged, my colleagues and I held the line against overwhelming numbers of rioters long enough for Congress and the vice president to get to safety, and later that night the 2020 presidential election was certified.

A Capitol Police officer injured during the riot suffered a stroke the following day and died.

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