Congressman Matt Gaetz on Monday asked for answers to the lack of video evidence regarding the death of Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick during the riot at the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6.
The Republican in Florida appeared on Fox News Hannity Monday night with Fox News, Jason Chaffetz, a former Utah congressman. Host Sean Hannity first asked Chaffetz about an opinion piece he drafted for Fox News earlier Monday, asking 13 security questions to Democratic House Nancy Pelosi. One of Chaffetz’s questions was whether there were “enough” security cameras in public spaces around the Capitol building.
Gaetz told Hannity he has another question to add to Chaffetz’s list
“I want to know exactly what caused Officer Brian Sicknick’s death,” Gaetz said. ‘I mean, the Capitol complex is more supervised than a casino, and you’re telling me we have no video evidence of what exactly happened to the murder? I want to know. ‘
Erin Schaff-Pool / Getty
Sicknick and four civilians died in the violence that erupted at the Capitol on January 6th. After a rally near the White House where former President Donald Trump spoke, protesters marched to the Capitol and gathered outside. Many protesters rushed past the Capitol police and the building, forcing members of both congress chambers to lock up. At the time, members of Congress were meeting at the Capitol to confirm the results of the 2020 election. They did so later as soon as the authorities cleaned the rooms of the rioters.
Sicknick is one of five people who died in the day’s violence. Capitol police announced his death in a news release on January 7. According to the release, Sicknick was injured “while physically speaking to protesters.” He returned to his ward office before being transported to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the next day.
Evidence of what took place during the riot quickly spread online, helped in part by photos and videos shared by those present on social media. Federal investigators called on Americans to help them identify the participants based on the visual evidence that exists of their participation.
In Sicknick’s case, it is not yet publicly known exactly how the officer died or who was possibly responsible for his death. While The New York Times initially reported that Sicknick may have died from blunt trauma to the head, the newspaper later published an update in which it was reported that the details surrounding Sicknick’s death were still in question.
Newsweek came out to Pelosi’s office for comment and will update this article with any answer.