VP Harris praises officers for foiling Jan. 6 'assault on democracy'
As the junior senator from California and the vice president-elect, Harris was present in the US Capitol during the attack two years ago.
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Vice President Kamala Harris (Getty Images)
On the anniversary of the attack by pro-Trump rioters on the US Capitol, Vice President Kamala Harris applauded law enforcement officers, stressing that the "assault on democracy" failed because of their efforts.
"On January 6th, 2021, American democracy endured a violent assault. Armed with deadly weapons and animated by lies and hate, insurrectionists invaded the United States Capitol in an attempt to overturn a lawful election and silence the voice of the people," Harris said in a statement on Friday.
Harris went on to say that as President of the Senate and as a former US senator, she "has seen firsthand the incredible heroism of the law enforcement officers who defend our nation’s capital."
US former President Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol two years ago to prevent Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election. The incident prompted congressional panel inquiries and federal investigations, with over 950 people charged.
It is worth noting that civil lawsuits against Trump have been filed by Democratic lawmakers and other law enforcement officers who responded to the Capitol attack. The federal appeals court in Washington, DC, is debating whether to uphold a trial judge's decision that Trump could be held liable for damages for his actions leading up to the riot. If that lawsuit is successful, the Sicknick complaint will almost certainly follow in its legal footsteps.
Read next: Republican party: Capitol attack is "legitimate political discourse"
The final report by the US House January 6 Select Committee on the investigation of the Capitol riots was concluded on December 23, with former President Donald Trump being accused of engaging in a "multi-part conspiracy".
According to the report, the MAGA campaigner "purposely disseminated false allegations of fraud... and for purposes of soliciting contributions," which led to the riots at the Capitol. The report stated that these indicate support for "a multi-part conspiracy to overturn the lawful results of the 2020 Presidential election."
