Jan. 6 committee hears officer testimony

Sgt. Aquilino Gonell told members of a U.S. House panel he thought he was going to die on the day of the Capitol riot. Three other police officers testified about their experiences before the Democrat-led committee on Tuesday. One, Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, said he could hear rioters chanting, “Kill him with his own gun.” “I can still hear those words in my head today,” he said.

What is the purpose of the committee? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said it was important to “find the truth” of what happened on Jan. 6. Many in the GOP called the committee redundant because other investigations are already going on. They also complained Pelosi stacked the committee with members who will ask only the questions she wants them to ask. The group has seven Democrats and two Republicans—Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois—both of whom voted to impeach President Donald Trump after the Capitol riot.

Dig deeper: Read Emily Belz’s report on domestic terror threats.