At 6 toes 7 inches, former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn needed to slouch barely when he spoke beneath the navy blue cover and greeted Democratic Occasion volunteers with a “what’s up, y’all?” Talking in Gaston County, North Carolina, earlier this month, the previous James Madison College soccer participant was a well-recognized face to the group.
Speaking with volunteers who have been making ready to go door to door for Vice President Kamala Harris and different Democratic candidates, Dunn stated his marketing campaign efforts this 12 months have been an try “to show lemons into lemonade.” He was referring to the riot on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Dunn recounted his efforts to repel the rioting mob that day. He stated rioters had hurled racial epithets at him and he is skilled trauma from that day. He informed North Carolina Democrats that all the police who responded Jan. 6 are heroes.
Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Solar/Tribune Information Service by way of Getty Photographs
The gang applauded when Dunn stated, “The No. 1 factor we’ve got to do is cease Donald Trump.” The previous president continues to make baseless claims concerning the Capitol riot and the 2020 election.
For the reason that Jan. 6 riot, Dunn has testified earlier than Congress and in courtroom for among the prosecutions of Jan. 6 defendants, and he is written a e-book about his expertise. His rising fame has made him a preferred surrogate for candidates — in the identical league as some Democratic governors and members of Congress.
Days after his North Carolina journey, Dunn traveled to Freeport, New York, and stood beneath the ductwork of an outdated restaurant that is been transformed into a brief marketing campaign workplace for congressional candidate Laura Gillen. She’s a Democrat making an attempt to win a Republican-held U.S. Home seat on Lengthy Island. Her crew known as on Dunn to assist mobilize get together volunteers.
That very same week, he was on stage speaking to Democratic activists in Nevada, and right here, his remarks have been a bit of spicier.
“I take pleasure in stopping that M*er,” utilizing an acronym for a vulgarity for former President Donald Trump.
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Dunn and his former colleague, retired Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, have turn out to be standard and more and more omnipresent marketing campaign surrogates for Democrats because the election approaches. Within the 4 years for the reason that Jan. 6 riot, Gonell, like Dunn, grew to become a vocal critic of Trump’s actions after the 2020 election, and has additionally testified on the Jan. 6 Home hearings.
Democratic candidates are capitalizing. Gonell informed CBS Information, “I have been to Arizona, Nevada and to the Pennsylvania state Legislature. I have been criss-crossing Pennsylvania, together with the Lehigh Valley, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg.”
Gonell, who retired after struggling accidents to his foot and shoulder from rioters in the course of the rebellion, has recorded a brand new marketing campaign advert for Vice President Kamala Harris. Within the advert, Gonell appears to be like straight on the digicam and references the rioters and Trump, “Donald Trump calls them warriors. And people of us who defended the Capitol, he insults us. And that is the distinction. The oath that we took to defend our democracy we take significantly. He doesn’t.”
Gonell informed CBS Information he is additionally being deployed to mobilize Latino voters in Pennsylvania. Democratic pollster Matt Barreto posted on social media about Gonell’s advocacy for Harris. “In all of our analysis, undecided Latino voters are telling us that Trump’s assist of Jan. 6 is a bridge too far,” he wrote. Each Dunn and Gonell additionally attended and spoke on the Democratic conference in August.
Dunn informed CBS Information, “For therefore many individuals, Jan. 6 is a frontline problem. One of many causes it’s related is as a result of Donald Trump retains bringing it up. Republicans say Democrats have to recover from it. However Donald Trump brings it up at each rally. I’d love nothing greater than to not have to speak about Jan. 6 anymore.”
Seated at a desk at an Arizona bookstore at a marketing campaign cease to assist Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Ruben Gallego, Dunn talked concerning the accidents suffered by among the greater than 140 officers injured on Jan. 6. As cameras recorded the occasion, Dunn accused Gallego’s opponent, Kari Lake, of perpetuating the kind of election denialism that gave rise to the Capitol siege.
Gonell, who has testified on the trials and sentencing hearings of Jan. 6 felony defendants, lambastes Trump allies for referring to the Jan. 6 rioters as “peaceable protesters” and Trump for his latest declare that the Capitol riot was a “day of affection.”
Gonell informed CBS Information, “I’ve been telling my story and reminding folks concerning the ramifications of Jan. 6,” when he was crushed whereas on the frontlines of the assault in a Capitol tunnel.
“It’s simply me doing what I can to carry folks accountable,” he stated.
Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who served on the Home Jan. 6 committee and is operating for a U.S. Senate seat, has acquired marketing campaign help from Gonell. In a marketing campaign fundraising pitch, Gonell praised Schiff, writing that he “fought relentlessly to disclose the reality concerning the Jan. 6 rebellion and to ensure that those that incited violence in opposition to our nation are held to account.”
Gonell informed CBS Information he expects to complete the marketing campaign season with voter outreach in Latino communities in Pennsylvania.
Schiff informed CBS Information, “Sgt. Gonell is utilizing his voice to encourage Individuals to vote to guard our democracy on this important election. And I’ll at all times be deeply grateful for his efforts to maintain me and my colleagues — Democrats and Republicans — secure on Jan. 6, and his bravery and repair on one of many darkest days in our nation’s historical past.”
Dunn, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Home seat in Maryland in Could, has additionally launched a political motion committee to supply fundraising and endorsements for Democratic candidates. Gillen, the Lengthy Island Democrat searching for the New York 4th District Congressional seat, just lately acquired Dunn’s endorsement.
Dunn additionally has additionally pushed again in cable information interviews in opposition to Trump’s latest claims concerning the Capitol assault.
“I am not simply going to let folks lie and say it was a ‘day of affection’ or that it wasn’t an enormous deal,” he stated.
One other former officer who protected the Capitol on Jan. 6 has been advocating within the runup to the election. is former Washington, D.C., police officer Michael Fanone, who says he isn’t affiliated with a political marketing campaign however has been serving to a company that advocates for elected leaders to make sure a peaceable switch of energy.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Submit by way of Getty Photographs
The group, Braveness for America, confirmed that Fanone and Gonell have taken half in almost 50 occasions throughout the nation centered on the upcoming elections. Fanone has additionally been tasked with outreach and interviews in native and nationwide media to share his experiences from the Capitol assault, which refute the claims of some Republicans and Trump that it was a peaceable and patriotic protest.
Fanone was knocked unconscious and brutalized by a gaggle of rioters, certainly one of whom was accused of stealing his badge and radio in the course of the assault.
“It is good to see that there are folks from all walks of life and all throughout the nation who’re as involved as I’m about the way forward for democracy,” Fanone stated.
Fanone, who additionally testified earlier than the Jan. 6 choose committee, informed CBS Information, “We actually have misplaced one thing as a rustic that we would not get again for a technology. We have misplaced compassion and empathy and the flexibility to be civil to at least one one other.”
