Former U.S. Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell expressed his belief that barring former President Trump from holding office could bring closure regarding the Jan. 6 riots.
“What does closure mean to me? I’m not sure,” Gonell told Dean Obeidallah during an interview on SiriusXM.
He continued, “It could mean that [Trump] is prevented from seeking political office and never sets foot in the White House again. It could also mean that he ends up in jail. Or perhaps he loses everything he had because he put other people’s lives at risk.”
The former President is currently facing several lawsuits in various states attempting to disqualify him from the 2024 presidential election. Lawyers argue that Trump violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the government from holding office.
Gonell, the author of the upcoming book, “American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy,” believes that Trump bears responsibility for the Capitol attack since he was the President of the United States.
Gonell has previously stated that Trump betrayed his oath to the Constitution.
During the period before President Biden’s inauguration, Gonell emphasized that the insurrection constituted an attack on Trump’s own government. He added that with several high-ranking members of Congress fearing for their lives, it posed a threat to national security.
“I don’t understand why people continue to make excuses for him,” said Gonell, who received a Congressional Gold Medal for his role in defending the Capitol against the rioters.
Gonell has also mentioned that he can no longer perform the physical aspects of his role due to injuries sustained on January 6. Prosecutors stated that rioter Kyle Fitzsimons, a professional butcher from Maine, inflicted a “career-ending and life-altering” shoulder injury on Gonell.
Gonell reported that he feared for his life during the attack and came very close to using lethal force on Fitzsimons when he was injured
READ MORE
This New Hampshire City Has Been Named the Highest Cancer Rates in the State