For people who defended the U.S. Capitol from a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters on Jan. 6, 2021, the Justice Department’s attempt to wipe away convictions for Oath Keepers and Proud Boys convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role in the insurrection is a damning indictment of just how far the institution has fallen.
“It was bullshit,” former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn said.
“Instead of praising the actions of the first responders for protecting elected officials on Jan. 6, Trump and his administration continue their assault on the truth,” former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell said.
Julie Farnam, who served as assistant director of intelligence for the U.S. Capitol Police during Jan. 6, said the DOJ’s move is evidence of “an erosion of laws generally” in America. Farnam said she had warned department superiors days in advance, telling them that extremists were headed to D.C. and planned to target Congress, and that her warnings were ignored.
“What incentive is there to play by the book?” she said. “I think people who have nefarious intentions are kind of thinking the same thing, and a lot of people will feel now they can get away with bad things, especially in the political realm and politically motivated violence.”
