Patterico's Pontifications

6/16/2021

Republican Representative Refuses To Shake Hands With DC Police Officer Assaulted At Capitol on Jan. 6 (UPDATE ADDED)

Filed under: General — Dana @ 7:20 pm



[guest post by Dana]

Shameful:

Rep. Andrew Clyde, a Georgia Republican who has downplayed the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, refused to shake hands with Michael Fanone, a Washington, DC Metropolitan police officer who was assaulted by pro-Trump rioters while protecting the Capitol, two members of Congress announced on Wednesday.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, tweeted that Fanone approached Clyde at the Capitol and introduced himself as “someone who fought to defend the Capitol,” but Clyde refused to shake his outstretched hand.

And if you have problems believing Swalwell, here’s Republican Adam Kinzinger confirming the described incident:

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, tweeted shortly after that he’d called Fanone and “confirmed” the story.

“Officer Fanone just ran into @Rep_Clyde at Capitol (he’s the “Jan 6 was a typical tour” guy). Fanone introduced himself as ‘someone who fought to defend the Capitol’ and put out his hand,” Swalwell tweeted. “Clyde refused to shake it. To honor Trump, @housegop will dishonor the police.”

“I just called Officer Fanone and confirmed this story. This is really incredible,” Kinzinger tweeted. “Also relayed an interaction he had with another members [sic] Chief of Staff that was really incredibly bad and disrespectful.”

You may recall that Rep. Clyde repeatedly downplayed the events of Jan. 6 and claimed during a hearing last month that many of the rioters behaved like they were on a “normal tourist visit.” The congressman also insisted there was “no insurrection,” and instead “an undisciplined mob” that included “some rioters” and some who committed vandalism. Clyde’s attempt to minimize the Capitol riot is particularly notable because he was photographed helping barricade the doors to the House floor from inside the chamber as pro-Trump rioters attempted to smash them down.

What an imbecile. But worse, what a big, fat hypocrite:

According to Fanone, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has also refused to meet with him.

UPDATE: Because a commenter noted that he wouldn’t shake hands with a stranger who came up to him and offered his hand, which is not unreasonable, I am adding a fuller description of the incident per Fanone:

Michaeal Fanone…told CNN’s Don Lemon that he went to the Capitol in an attempt to set up meetings with Clyde and the 20 other Republican lawmakers who on Tuesday voted against legislation to award Congressional Gold Medals to officers who responded to the Jan. 6 rioting.

“I really just went there to engage with them, talk to them about my experience, show them body-worn camera footage from that day, if they were interested,” Fanone said. “I didn’t go there with the thoughts that I was going to change a bunch of hearts and minds, but I wanted to better educate them as to what officers’ experiences were that day.”

Fanone, who was repeatedly hit with a stun gun and beaten during the riot, said that while he was not able to set up meetings with any of the lawmakers, he ran into Clyde outside an elevator.

“I was very cordial. I extended my hand to shake his hand,” Fanone recounted. “He just stared at me. I asked if he was going to shake my hand, and he told me that he didn’t 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 Jan. 6 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,” the officer said.

“At that point, the congressman turned away from me,” Fanone alleged before saying that once the elevator doors opened, Clyde “ran as quickly as he could, like a coward.”

–Dana

48 Responses to “Republican Representative Refuses To Shake Hands With DC Police Officer Assaulted At Capitol on Jan. 6 (UPDATE ADDED)”

  1. Depending on which Blue we’re talking about, they may or may not be Backed. So I guess that means that not all Blue lives matter.

    Dana (fd537d)

  2. Dana,

    I get the feeling that both sides are grandstanding here.

    norcal (c66c6b)

  3. Possibly. But only one side refused to shake Officer Fanone’s hand.

    Dana (fd537d)

  4. Good point, Dana.

    norcal (c66c6b)

  5. And seriously, you can’t shake hands with a police officer working to save your ass from the crazies??? This is just disgraceful. You tell me who’s grandstanding here, and to what end? He didn’t believe there was an insurrection at the Capitol and yet he was helping barricade the House doors? That only makes sense if he is a die-hard Trumper who doesn’t want to offend his leader. Compare his refusal to shake Fanone’s hand with what he said about Trump being impeached:

    “Quite simply, it is a shameful final act of political retribution — retribution this president has weathered since day one.”

    Dana (fd537d)

  6. Clyde was one of the 147 fascist Republicans who voted against certifying the vote on January 6th.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  7. I wouldn’t shake hands with a stranger who came up to me and offered his hand, either. Even before Covid.

    nk (1d9030)

  8. Perhaps it’s just ‘The Powers That Be’ know you-know-who is the Kapitol Kop who shot and killed unarmed lady veteran you-know-who.

    DCSCA (f4c5e5)

  9. remember when we thought handshake outrage was nutty?

    https://patterico.com/2018/09/05/resistance-kavanaugh-snubbed-a-parkland-dad111/

    JF (e1156d)

  10. introduced himself as “someone who fought to defend the Capitol”

    To introduce himself that way could be seen as a deliberate effort to push the button of a January 6th denier. In other words, it comes across as trolling for a snub, which is precisely what he got.

    Let me rephrase. It appears one is trolling and the other is signaling for the rubes.

    norcal (c66c6b)

  11. I really have no doubt: Trump took that district with 54 percent margin (76-22). It’s the top right part of Georgia; top-left is Ms Greene (Trump did less well in MTG’s district) (72-25)).

    He is representing his constituents as they prefer to be represented. You may deplore his actions, but his constituents do not.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  12. Question: Should a representative ignore the wishes of his constituents in order to please the talking heads? Because democracy?

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  13. I wonder why the police injured by the BLM Vanilla Isis riots never get facetime on TV.

    BillPasadena (5b0401)

  14. Should a representative ignore the wishes of his constituents in order to please the talking heads?

    How about he should ignore the wishes of his constituents because blue lives matter, because a law enforcement officer and his colleagues put their lives at risk to protect Clyde and his fellow House members, because it was the right thing to do.

    Paul Montagu (5de684)

  15. Here is Fanone’s conversation with Don Lemon last night in which he provided more details of the encounter with Clyde. In relaying the details of the snub, he makes it clear that he identified himself in detail as he reached out to shake Clyde’s hand:

    Micheal Fanone told Don Lemober that he went to the Capitol in an attempt to set up meetings with Clyde and the 20 other Republican lawmakers who on Tuesday voted against legislation to award Congressional Gold Medals to officers who responded to the Jan. 6 rioting.

    “I really just went there to engage with them, talk to them about my experience, show them body-worn camera footage from that day, if they were interested,” Fanone said. “I didn’t go there with the thoughts that I was going to change a bunch of hearts and minds, but I wanted to better educate them as to what officers’ experiences were that day.”

    Fanone, who was repeatedly hit with a stun gun and beaten during the riot, said that while he was not able to set up meetings with any of the lawmakers, he ran into Clyde outside an elevator.

    “I was very cordial. I extended my hand to shake his hand,” Fanone recounted. “He just stared at me. I asked if he was going to shake my hand, and he told me that he didn’t 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 Jan. 6 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,” the officer said.

    “At that point, the congressman turned away from me,” Fanone alleged before saying that once the elevator doors opened, Clyde “ran as quickly as he could, like a coward.”

    I’ve added this to the post as an update.

    Dana (fd537d)

  16. How about he should ignore the wishes of his constituents because blue lives matter, because a law enforcement officer and his colleagues put their lives at risk to protect Clyde and his fellow House members, because it was the right thing to do.

    I share this sentiment and also include the officers that were injured after several nights of terror in Lafayette Park.

    BuDuh (7bca93)

  17. Your outrage is absolutely chilling. It is good that this particular officer goes on CNN – bulwark of The Truth – to plead his case.

    Colonel Haiku (2601c0)

  18. How about he should ignore the wishes of his constituents

    You obviously don’t understand what representative democracy is all about.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  19. Note: I think his constituents are deplorable asshats, but that does not mean that they should not be allowed to select a representative to carry their opinions to Congress. I also dislike Tlaib, AOC, Omar and such, but their constituents are perfectly happy with them.

    Kevin M (ab1c11)

  20. I wonder why the police injured by the BLM Vanilla Isis riots never get facetime on TV.

    BillPasadena (5b0401) — 6/17/2021 @ 7:45 am

    Possibly because they are not grandstanding insurrectionist politicians but just doing their jobs (or still recovering from their injuries).

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  21. Dana (fd537d) — 6/16/2021 @ 7:24 pm

    Depending on which Blue we’re talking about, they may or may not be Backed. So I guess that means that not all Blue lives matter.

    This is an interesting idea. I wonder if applies generally? Would this apply to BLM for example? I mean, if you’ve got a slogan like that wouldn’t this “depending on which black we’re talking about” criticism kick in at some point?

    Does having a slogan like this really prevent any sort of distinctions? Maybe that’s a good reason not to ally too closely with these groups or take these slogans to literally.

    frosty (40e1bb)

  22. Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 6/17/2021 @ 9:24 am

    Possibly because they are not grandstanding insurrectionist politicians but just doing their jobs (or still recovering from their injuries).

    You basically confirmed BillPasadena‘s point. This was a thing because the cop pushed for the handshake. The other case isn’t a thing because those cops aren’t trying to grandstand with pro-BLM politicians and if they are they aren’t getting this sort of press.

    frosty (40e1bb)

  23. This was a thing because the cop pushed for the handshake.

    But apparently not on camera. Only after it “became a thing” did Fanone go on CNN. If Rep. Clyde had politely accepted the handshake after Fanone introduced himself, thanked him for his service, then walked away, then the furor would never have happened. It’s not like Fanone dragged a camera crew with him.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  24. It’s not like Fanone dragged a camera crew with him.

    Why drag around a crew when you can run to them afterwards with your allegations?

    BuDuh (7bca93)

  25. GOP hands Dems a new line of attack: They’re for ‘Trump over the cops’
    ……
    In the aftermath of the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol attack, the GOP’s love for law enforcement — a longtime hallmark of the party — is being called into question as some members on the right continue to whitewash the insurrection and even foist blame on the police officers who protected lawmakers that day.

    Democrats are ramping up attacks on Republicans who refused to investigate the riots or formally honor the cops who responded, some of whom were tasered, maced and beaten with flag poles by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Members of President Joe Biden’s party are not only painting their colleagues across the aisle as disrespectful of law enforcement, but also arguing that the GOP’s unflinching loyalty to Trump has compromised its core values.
    ……
    Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), one of the House’s impeachment managers during Trump’s second trial, was quick to seize on the interaction (between Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Insurrectionist) and D.C. police officer Michael Fanone), tweeting “that to honor Trump, @housegop will dishonor the police.”

    “It’s hard to accuse Democrats of defunding the police when you are dishonoring the police,” Swalwell said in an interview. “It makes me wonder: Was there prior support [in the GOP] for law enforcement? Or just phony political pandering? Because when the rubber meets the road, they’re choosing Trump over the cops.”

    It’s a clear attempt to flip the script on Republicans, who yoked Democrats in key battleground districts to liberal calls to “defund the police” as part of an effective messaging strategy that Democrats struggled to counter in the 2020 election cycle. But now, Republicans may find themselves on their heels — and see their own narrative undermined — if these Democratic attacks stick.
    …….
    Firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo., Insurrectionist), who voted against the measure (to bestow the Congressional Gold Medal on Capitol and D.C. police officers), argued there are better ways to honor the police. She also lit into Democrats for their positions on police reform.

    “I hope that every police officer that has gone to other members of Congress here asking why they voted no yesterday went to the Democrat members’ office who wanted to remove their qualified immunity, who wanted to make them personally liable for doing their job,” Boebert said, citing a legal doctrine shielding offers from legal burdens for behavior on the job that Democrats want to overhaul.
    ……..
    ……..Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) said the “GOP loves to say ‘back the blue’ but really it is only when politically convenient.” Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) called his Republican colleagues “either evil or nuts.” And Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) labeled the GOP opposition to the gold medal bill as “sick” and “pathetic.”

    Rep. Suzan Del Bene’s (D-Wash.) staff even walked the House hallways to tally the number of Republicans with signs hanging outside their offices thanking the Capitol Police who also voted against the Jan. 6 commission (131) and who voted against honoring law enforcement responders to the riot (13).
    ………
    Two of (Rep. Paul) Gosar’s (R-Insurrectionist) brothers appeared on CNN Thursday morning to disavow the Republican lawmaker’s dismissive response to the insurrection and his vote against the proposal to honor law enforcement.

    “First off, I’d like to thank Officer Fanone for his and the other Capitol Hill police officers for their bravery and heroism on that day,” David Gosar said. “And on behalf of the actual sane members of our family, which is everyone but Paul, we apologize on behalf of our family to him for his despicable comments and disgraceful conduct through this whole incident.”
    ………

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  26. Why drag around a crew when you can run to them afterwards with your allegations?

    Allegations apparently supported by witnesses.

    Rip Murdock (d2a2a8)

  27. I wonder where in the Capitol this encounter took place? My understanding has been that it is almost impossible to get inside most of the buildings there.

    BuDuh (7bca93)

  28. Allegations apparently supported by witnesses.

    Swalwell, in the quote above, doesn’t really say that he saw it happen, and Kinzinger‘s testimony is that he verified it through a conversation with the aggrieved.

    I’ll look more closely at the linked article.

    BuDuh (7bca93)

  29. My favorite comment is the Colonel’s complaint that he went to CNN to get interviewed. Because, it’s a matter of physical law of the Universe that a) TRUTH only comes from right wing news sites, and b) anything that might hurt a Republican is untrue. Facts are only facts if they confirm our bias toward the Right.

    Kido Butai (5ad9a2)

  30. Thank you for the update, Dana. I had not realized that it was about the Congressional Gold Medals. I had thought it was about Clyde’s “normal tourist visit” and about-face on impeachment.

    I stand corrected. Even Trumpcakes should know that it doesn’t hurt to hand out a few attaboys to the people whose job it is to protect them. This is especially deplorable even for them.

    nk (1d9030)

  31. It turns out that Swalwell was not an eyewitness:

    https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/amp-video/mmvo114960453619

    Swalwell, surprised by Fanone walking into his office, does make it sound like Fanone was wandering through the congressional office areas looking for Reps to talk to.

    I honestly didn’t think the Capitol was opened up for these types of visits.

    BuDuh (7bca93)

  32. CNN was talking about how Biden hides behind his handlers and they have never seen previous presidents act that way. I to believe that CNN deserves to be trusted.

    BuDuh (7bca93)

  33. They really do, BuDuh. They’ve earned that trust, as they’re always searching for truth. They had Avenatti on 113 times in that search and you really can’t be any more diligent than that.

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  34. Unless we’re talking Tater Stelter, that prototypical liberal male…

    Colonel Haiku (71a740)

  35. BuDuh (7bca93) — 6/17/2021 @ 10:20 am

    I to believe that CNN deserves to be trusted.

    No media outlet deserves to be trusted. Everything should pass through a bit of critical thinking and healthy skepticism.

    frosty (853fac)

  36. BuDuh (7bca93) — 6/17/2021 @ 10:05 am

    My understanding has been that it is almost impossible to get inside most of the buildings there.

    Doesn’t he work there?

    I am interested in the taser causing a heart attack. Did Brian Sicknick get tasered? They don’t say anything.

    Sammy Finkelman (51cd0c)

  37. And seriously, you can’t shake hands with a police officer working to save your ass from the crazies??? This is just disgraceful. You tell me who’s grandstanding here, and to what end?

    That you actually believe the Congress critters’s asses were in jeopardy suggests that you have no clue as to what being in jeopardy actually means

    Horatio (7164a8)

  38. 1) I would’ve shaken his hand.

    2) He appears to be grandstanding to push a political agenda.

    3) That agenda supports the worst elements of the political left as is shown by Don Lemon giving him prime viewing on limited notice.

    NJRob (bcd2c5)

  39. “Officer Fanone just ran into @Rep_Clyde at Capitol (he’s the “Jan 6 was a typical tour” guy). Fanone introduced himself as ‘someone who fought to defend the Capitol’ and put out his hand,” Swalwell tweeted. “Clyde refused to shake it. To honor Trump, @housegop will dishonor the police.”

    These days….. sorry to say, I need a recording of the interactions before I believe anybody.
    No offense to Fanone but other cops who have done heroic things before him have lied. Swalwell is a liar, Clyde is a politician and his lips are moving, so…

    steveg (ebe7c1)

  40. Here’s a picture of Rep Clyde (far left) preparing to greet the tourists:
    https://currently.att.yahoo.com/att/republican-compared-capitol-rioters-tourists-174512032.html

    Davethulhu (13b53b)

  41. This sat for a bit; any news on actual eye witnesses to this other than Fanone who went there to better educate them?

    here’s Republican Adam Kinzinger confirming the described incident:

    Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, tweeted shortly after that he’d called Fanone and “confirmed” the story

    Interesting how “confirmed” was upgraded to confirming in so few words. A more accurate description would be Kinzinger called Fanone who said “yea, that’s what I said”.

    frosty (0e508d)

  42. #41
    Doubtful.
    At best it was a text.

    #40
    There you go. Proves everything Fanone said inconvertible.
    Maybe Rep. Clyde was afraid and later found out there wasn’t that much to have been afraid of?
    Why shake hands and talk nice with a cop/guy who is going to turn whatever nice or kind thing you offer him against you. Defense attorney 101. Don’t talk to a cop period, but if you meet a cop with an ax to grind don’t even shake his hand

    steveg (ebe7c1)

  43. I wonder how many federal cops in Portland have suffered mild concussions (brain trauma) and how many have suffered light arrythmia due the concussion of exploding fireworks near their chest wall, or permanent eyesight damage from lasers.
    In DC 49 Federal Park cops were injured by BLM in one overnight riot. No one cares.
    The caring should be consistent and equal. The Capitol Police are no braver, nor more important than the park cops. Why elevate one incident or one injury over another? I know the answer to that

    steveg (ebe7c1)

  44. “Maybe Rep. Clyde was afraid and later found out there wasn’t that much to have been afraid of?”

    He was afraid then, and he’s still afraid now of the same group of people: Trump supporters.

    Davethulhu (13b53b)

  45. He was afraid then, and he’s still afraid now of the same group of people: Trump supporters.

    Dependency. If the monkey doesn’t kill you, the withdrawal will make you feel like it is.

    nk (1d9030)

  46. Always a good thing when a US Rep is looking over his shoulder for constituents.
    Its baked into the system for a reason (see Liz Cheney)

    steveg (ebe7c1)

  47. If we’re going to get more DNC/NeverTrump fanfic can it have more space lasers? If the sci-fi is played out can we get wizards, elves, and maybe a dragon every so often?

    frosty (226bff)

  48. Sure, but you won’t have much of an E Pluribus Unum if the Article I people don’t pay at least a little bit of attention to their oath of office along with their graft.

    nk (1d9030)


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