Amidst ongoing debates about the events of January 6, 2021, a former U.S. Capitol police officer took a stand in Wisconsin to criticize recent presidential pardons. The pardons have reignited discussions about accountability and justice, especially among those who were directly affected by the Capitol breach.
Harry Dunn, a former officer who defended the Capitol during the January 6 riots, expressed his disapproval of President Donald Trump’s pardons, which were granted to over 1,500 individuals involved in the insurrection. Of these pardons, 11 were from Wisconsin.
Dunn addressed the issue during a speech at the headquarters of the Milwaukee Area Labor Council. He noted that he wasn’t taken aback by the pardons, as Trump had frequently mentioned this possibility during his campaign.
“So I wasn’t shocked,” Dunn stated. “My shock and dismay or anger was the people who are shocked about it now, because, like I said, y’all weren’t paying attention.” He continued, “If you’re surprised, you were not paying attention.”
Having authored a book on his experiences defending the Capitol, Dunn has faced threats for his outspokenness. He was one of several officers who testified before the Jan. 6 committee and received a pre-emptive pardon from former President Joe Biden.
“I wish that everybody could see what happened on Jan. 6 and call it for what it was, even now, four years after,” Dunn said. “But the fact that they aren’t is the reason that I am here.”
Dunn’s visit to Wisconsin also focused on the state’s Supreme Court race and he has previously supported former Vice President Kamala Harris in her presidential campaign efforts.
“I’ll be damned if I ever stop pushing back against these lies, these narratives, these people, that think it’s OK what happened that day,” he asserted.
In the aftermath of the attack, approximately 140 officers were injured. The Fraternal Order of Police, which had endorsed Trump for president, criticized the pardons in a joint statement with the International Association of Chiefs of Police condemning the pardons.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that most Americans disapproved of the pardons. Despite the criticism, Trump stood by his decision, as reported by NPR.
The official White House proclamation described the pardons as a step towards ending a “grave national injustice” and promoting “national reconciliation,” affirming that it addressed the consequences faced over the past four years, as outlined in the official statement.
