Congressman Matt Gaetz asked for answers on Monday about the lack of video evidence about the death of Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick during the riot in the United States Capitol building on January 6.
The Florida Republican appeared on Fox News’ Hannity Monday night with Fox News contributor Jason Chaffetz, a former Utah congressman. Presenter Sean Hannity asked Chaffetz for the first time about an opinion article he wrote for Fox News on Monday, which presented 13 security-related issues to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. One of Chaffetz’s questions was whether there are “enough” security cameras parked in public spaces around the Capitol building.
Gaetz told Hannity he had another question to add to Chaffetz’s list
“I want to know exactly what happened to cause Officer Brian Sicknick to die,” said Gaetz. “I mean, the Capitol complex has more surveillance than a casino, and are you telling me that we have no video evidence of what exactly happened to cause that murder? I want to know.”
Erin Schaff-Pool / Getty
Sicknick and four civilians died in the violence that broke out at the Capitol on January 6. After a protest near the White House in which former President Donald Trump spoke, the protesters marched to the Capitol and gathered outside. Many protesters pushed their way past the Capitol Police and into the building, forcing members of both chambers of Congress to block. On that occasion, members of Congress met at the Capitol to certify the results of the 2020 election. Later, they did so when the authorities cleared the chambers of the protesters.
Sicknick is one of five people who died in the violence of the day. Capitol Police announced his death in a press release on January 7. According to the statement, Sicknick was injured “while physically engaging with the protesters”. He returned to his division’s office before being transported to a hospital, where he died the following day from his injuries, the statement said.
Evidence of what happened during the rebellion spread quickly online, aided in part by photos and videos shared on social media by those present. Federal investigators called Americans to help them identify participants based on visual evidence of their participation.
In the case of Sicknick, it is not yet publicly known how exactly the policeman died or who may have been responsible for his death. While The New York Times initially reported that Sicknick may have died as a result of brute force trauma to the head, the newspaper later published an update reporting that the details surrounding Sicknick’s death were still in question.
Newsweek has contacted Pelosi’s office for comment and will update this article with any response.