Officer Details Gruesome January 6 Injuries: 'Eye Gouged, Skull Smashed with My Own Baton'

Washington D.C. – A D.C. Metropolitan Police officer, identified as Michael Fanone, has vividly recounted the brutal assault he endured while defending the U.S. Capitol during the January 6th attack, describing injuries that included an eye gouge and his skull being smashed with his own baton. His harrowing testimony underscores the severe political violence faced by law enforcement during the insurrection. The account was highlighted by the Senate Judiciary Democrats on social media, drawing renewed attention to the personal cost of the day's events.

Officer Fanone, who has been vocal about his experiences, described the intense confrontation he faced from rioters. "I’m intimately familiar with political violence. When I fought to defend the Capitol and your very lives on January 6, I was beaten, bloodied, crushed, with my eye gouged and my skull smashed with my own baton," he stated in the powerful testimony shared via the Senate Judiciary Democrats' tweet. This description aligns with previous public statements where Fanone detailed being dragged into the crowd, tased repeatedly, and suffering a heart attack.

The severe injuries sustained by Officer Fanone are emblematic of the widespread violence directed at law enforcement during the Capitol breach. More than 150 officers from various agencies were injured that day, with many suffering concussions, broken bones, chemical burns, and psychological trauma. Their personal accounts have been crucial in congressional investigations and public understanding of the attack's ferocity.

Fanone's testimony, amplified by political bodies, serves as a stark reminder of the physical and emotional toll on those who protected the Capitol. His ongoing advocacy and willingness to share his story contribute to the national dialogue surrounding accountability for the January 6th events and the broader implications of political extremism. The Senate Judiciary Democrats' decision to feature his words emphasizes the continued focus on the human impact of the attack.