Republican lawmakers continue to dismiss the severity of the deadly failed insurrection carried out by pro-Trump extremists against the United States Capitol on January 6 as a result of former President Donald Trump's 2020 election lies.
The rioters ransacked offices, beat police officers, shattered windows, smeared excrement across the walls, and called for the execution of elected officials they believed were disloyal to Trump, yet congressional GOPers insist that Democrats calling for accountability are making a mountain out of a molehill.
Congressman Andrew Clyde (R-GA) is one such Republican. He made waves recently for claiming in a committee hearing that the Capitol Riots resembled a "normal tourist visit."
D.C. Police officer Michael Fanone, who was beaten and tased while trying to protect lawmakers during the Capitol riots, visited Congress this week to combat the false narrative of the insurrection being touted by Republicans. He revealed that he'd tried to speak with Rep. Clyde, approaching him to shake his hand.
Clyde instead ran away.
Watch Fanone recount the event below.
The officer told CNN's Don Lemon:
"I extended my hand to shake his hand. He just stared at me. I asked him if he was going to shake my hand and he told me that he didn't know who know I was, So I introduced myself. I said that I was Officer Michael Fanone, that I was a D.C. Metropolitan police officer who fought on January 6th to defend the Capitol. And as a result, I suffered a traumatic brain injury as well as a heart attack after having been tased numerous times at the base of my skull, as well as being severely beaten."
But Clyde wouldn't shake his hand.
"At that point, the Congressman turned away from me, pulled out his cell phone. It looked like he was attempting to pull up an audio recording app on his phone ... As soon as the elevator doors opened, he ran as quickly as he could, like a coward."
People agreed with Fanone's description of Clyde as a "coward."
People saw Clyde's evasiveness as a further indictment of the entire Republican party.
This week, Clyde was one of just 21 House Republicans who voted against awarding the Congressional Gold Medal of Freedom to officers that protected the Capitol during the riots.
