Garland Uses Cops Who Died By Stroke, Suicides To Rewrite J6

Not a single Capitol police officer was killed on January 6, 2021, yet Attorney General Merrick Garland’s dishonest statement about the protest released Monday may have people thinking otherwise.

“On this day, four years ago, police officers were brutally assaulted while bravely defending the United States Capitol. They were punched, tackled, tased, and attacked with chemical agents that burned their eyes and skin,” Garland said. “Today, I am thinking of the officers who still bear the scars of that day as well as the loved ones of the five officers who lost their lives in the line of duty as a result of what happened to them on January 6, 2021.”

But not a single officer was killed by any January 6 defendants — which is perhaps why not a single defendant was charged with manslaughter or murder.

Officer Brian Sicknick died of natural causes on Jan. 7 after suffering two strokes, according to the Washington D.C. chief medical examiner. Members of the propaganda press, however, spent weeks telling America that Sicknick was beaten to death with a fire extinguisher during the protest (I’m looking at you, New York Times). Other outlets like The Associated Press, BBC and USA Today repeated the egregious lie, as pointed out by my colleague Jordan Boyd.

Four other officers died by suicide within months of the protest — including two officers who were not present for the actual protest. Metropolitan Police Officer Kyle DeFreytag was not present for the actual protest, but later “helped enforce the curfew put in place after a mob of supporters” of then-President Donald Trump entered the Capitol Building, according to People Magazine. Officer Gunther Hashida also died by suicide after having not been present for the riot itself but responding to it.

In fact, The Washington Post reported that “Authorities drew no connection between the riot and [Hashida’s] death.”

“An official familiar with the investigation said Hashida had struggles beyond Jan. 6 that could have played a role,” the report continued.

Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department Robert J. Contee III said “that he could not say whether the riot was the cause of the suicides,” according to The New York Times.

The only person who was actually killed on January 6, 2021 was Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd. Byrd fatally shot Babbitt after she attempted to enter the lobby of the House chamber. Byrd has never been charged in connection to the killing of Babbitt.

Garland’s decision to invoke these emotional talking points — like the suicides of four officers — is nothing more than a politically motivated attempt to justify his out-of-control Department of Justice and their political persecution of hundreds of non-violent protesters.

Brianna Lyman is an elections correspondent at The Federalist. Brianna graduated from Fordham University with a degree in International Political Economy. Her work has been featured on Newsmax, Fox News, Fox Business and RealClearPolitics. Follow Brianna on X: @briannalyman2