The brother of fallen Capitol Officer Brian Sicknick has condemned a recent Supreme Court ruling that grants immunity to law enforcement officers involved in the January 6th Capitol riot. This decision has sparked outrage among the families of those who defended the Capitol, particularly those who lost loved ones in the attack.
Brian Sicknick, a Capitol Police officer, died after suffering multiple strokes in the days following the January 6th insurrection. His family has been vocal about their dissatisfaction with how the aftermath of the attack has been handled, particularly by Republican leaders. Ken Sicknick, Brian’s brother, expressed his frustration in an interview with CBS News, stating that the decision to grant immunity to the officers involved is a betrayal to those who defended the Capitol.
The Supreme Court’s ruling has been seen by many as a setback in the quest for accountability and justice for the events of January 6th. The decision effectively shields law enforcement officers from being held liable for their actions during the riot, a move that has been criticized by the families of the fallen officers and many others who were affected by the attack.
Ken Sicknick did not mince words when discussing the ruling. “With them, it’s party first,” he said, referring to the Republican leadership. He praised Rep. Liz Cheney for her willingness to stand up against her party in the pursuit of justice, even at the cost of her political career. Cheney has been one of the few Republicans who have consistently condemned former President Donald Trump and his role in inciting the riot.
The Sicknick family’s discontent was also evident during a recent Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, where they refused to shake hands with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Republican House Leader Kevin McCarthy. The medals were awarded to law enforcement officers and the families of those who died defending the Capitol. The Sicknick family’s refusal to engage with McConnell and McCarthy was a powerful statement against what they see as the Republican leadership’s failure to hold Trump accountable.
Gladys Sicknick, Brian’s mother, has been particularly vocal about her disdain for the Republican leaders. In an interview with CNN, she described them as “two-faced,” criticizing their public praise of the Capitol Police while simultaneously supporting Trump. “I’m just tired of them standing there and saying how wonderful the Capitol police is,” she said, “and then they turn around and go down to Mar-a-Lago and kiss [Trump’s] ring.”
The frustration of the Sicknick family is shared by many others who were affected by the January 6th attack. Multiple law enforcement officers who accepted the Congressional Gold Medal on behalf of their departments also walked past the Republican leaders in the receiving line, refusing to shake their hands. This act of defiance highlighted the deep rift between those who defended the Capitol and the Republican leadership.
U.S. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, who accepted one of the medals, has acknowledged the need for significant changes within his department to prevent future failures like those that occurred on January 6th. “If you look at our intelligence operations, what we’re doing today, it’s just night and day in comparison to what we had before [January] 6th,” Manger told NPR.
Rep. Liz Cheney has also been outspoken in her criticism of her Republican colleagues who voted against honoring the officers who defended the Capitol. Cheney, who serves as vice chair of the January 6th committee, was removed from her position as Republican conference chair due to her criticism of Trump. She has continued to advocate for accountability and justice, stating that she doesn’t “see how anybody with any self-respect could vote against honoring the brave men and women who fought and defended the Capitol and the Constitution that day.”
The Supreme Court’s ruling has added another layer of complexity to the ongoing efforts to seek justice for the events of January 6th. For the families of the fallen officers, like the Sicknicks, the decision is a painful reminder of the challenges they face in their quest for accountability. The ruling has also intensified the debate over the role of law enforcement and the need for reform in the wake of the Capitol riot.
As the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of January 6th, the voices of those who were directly affected by the attack remain crucial. The condemnation from the Sicknick family and others serves as a powerful reminder of the need for continued vigilance and accountability in the face of such unprecedented challenges to democracy.
Source: CBS News, CNN, NPR
