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Aquilino Gonell

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Aquilino Gonell
Gonell in 2024
Born1979 or 1980
Guayubin, Dominican Republic
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Army
United States Capitol Police
Known forDefending the U.S. Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack
Battles / warsIraq War
January 6 Capitol attack
AwardsCongressional Gold Medal
Presidential Citizens Medal

Aquilino Gonell (born 1979 or 1980) is a Dominican-American former sergeant of the United States Capitol Police who is known for the defending the Capitol building and its occupants during the January 6, 2021 attack. In 2022, he retired from the Capitol Police due to injuries he sustained during the attack. He received the Congressional Gold Medal in 2022 and the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2023. He is the author of American Shield: The Immigrant Sergeant Who Defended Democracy.

Early life

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Aquilino Gonell was born in 1979 or 1980[1][2] in Guayubin, Dominican Republic.[3] At age 12, in 1992, he moved to Brooklyn in the United States.[3][4] He became an American citizen.[4] At age 21, in 1999, he joined the U.S. Army in South Carolina.[3][5] In 2004, he was sent to Iraq, where he saw combat in the Iraq War.[3][4]

Career

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Gonell joined the United States Capitol Police in 2006, and worked there for 16 years. During this time, he became a sergeant, and passed the test for being a lieutenant, but did not become one because of his injuries from January 6.[1][3][4]

January 6 attacks

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On January 6, 2021, supporters of then-U.S. President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol to prevent the counting of Electoral College votes in the 2020 presidential election that would confirm Trump's opponent, Joe Biden, to be the next president. The attack began just before 1 p.m.,[6] when Trump finished speaking at Washington D.C.'s Ellipse park and his supporters who were listening started marching east towards the Capitol.[7]

The rioters attempted to push past Gonell and other officers who were holding a line. Fighting then broke out.[8] Gonell fought with at least 40 people for six hours.[1][9] At some point, he was pulled under the crowd of people. He said he lost enough oxygen to where he thought he was going to die.[8] He eventually moved to a tunnel inside the Capitol, trying to prevent the mob from going upstairs.[5] During the fighting, he was punched, bitten, and hit with a flagpole, a bat, and his own baton.[10][11]

Aftermath

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Gonell underwent two major surgeries because of the injuries during the attack. They included having a metal plate installed on his foot.[5][1] He also underwent physical and mental therapy to deal with trauma.[1] Six months after the attack, he publicly testified about his experiences in the United States House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack.[12][2] In summer 2022, Gonell testified in the trial of a man who assaulted him on January 6, Kyle Fitzsimons. Fitzsimons was eventually convicted on 11 charges and 7 felonies. He was sentenced to 87 months in prison.[2]

Gonell shaking hands with Joe Biden while being awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2023

On December 6, 2022, Gonell was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his role in defending the Capitol.[13] On December 12, 2022, he retired from the Capitol Police, because his injuries made him no longer able to pass the physical tests proving he was fit for the force.[1][2] On January 6, 2023, Joe Biden awarded 14 people who defended the Capitol, including Gonell, the Presidential Citizens Medal.[14] On November 7, 2023, Gonell's book American Shield: The Immigrant Who Defended Democracy was released.[12]

2024 election

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To support Trump's 2024 campaign, Republican Mike Johnson released videotapes of January 6 with footage edited to downplay the attack's violence. This included photographs of Gonell standing upright that evening, attempting to prove that Gonell had not experienced serious violence.[1] On June 6, 2024, when Gonell visited the Pennsylvania State Capitol with fellow Capitol officer Harry Dunn, some Republican legislators in the building booed the officers or walked out.[8][15]

In mid-2024, Gonell, along with Dunn and D.C. Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges, have gone to various swing states to campaign for the Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign.[16] They also appeared in a TV ad targeting Arizonans that highlighted various threats made by Trump.[17] After Joe Biden dropped out of the race, the officers joined the Kamala Harris campaign.[18]

On the 3rd night of the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Gonell spoke to the delegates. He spoke of his experience on January 6 and declared that Trump had betrayed the country.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Gonell, Aquilino (2024-01-06). "I've been betrayed by the Republicans I swore to protect". Salon. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  2. ^ a b c d "Capitol Police officer injured on Jan. 6 cites 'trauma' of riot in resignation letter". NBC News. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Immigrant Capitol Police Officer still deals with pain". AP News. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  4. ^ a b c d Gonell, Aquilino (2024-01-07). "How January 6 changed everything: A Capitol Police officer's story of service and survival". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  5. ^ a b c Russell, Terri (2024-05-30). "Former capitol policemen cast light on Jan. 6 riots". www.kolotv.com. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  6. ^ Roebuck, Jeremy (2024-02-02). "The Bucks County man behind the moment that kicked off the Jan. 6 Capitol riot convicted at trial". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  7. ^ "January 6 U.S. Capitol Attack| Background, Events, Criminal Charges, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  8. ^ a b c "Officers who defended the Capitol fight falsehoods about Jan. 6 and campaign for Joe Biden". AP News. 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  9. ^ "'What I lived through is real:' Former Capitol Police sergeant reflects on Jan. 6 attack". KIRO 7 News Seattle. 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  10. ^ Runnels, Ayden (2024-05-30). "Capitol Police officers in Las Vegas talk about Jan. 6 and why they support Biden". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  11. ^ "Police officers involved in Jan. 6 capitol riots stump for Biden in Scranton, call to defend democracy". WVIA Public Media. 2024-06-06. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  12. ^ a b Kim, Catherine (October 27, 2023). "This Capitol Police officer has no regrets about Jan. 6". Politico. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  13. ^ Team, CBS Miami (2022-12-06). "Officers who defended Capitol from Trump supporters honored with Congressional Gold Medals - CBS Miami". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  14. ^ Moore, Elena (January 6, 2023). "Biden honors police officers and election workers 2 years after the Capitol attack". NPR. Retrieved August 11, 2024.
  15. ^ McGoldrick, Gillian (2024-06-06). "Some Republicans booed or walked out as Pa. House recognized Jan. 6 Capitol police officers". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  16. ^ Watson, Kathryn (2024-05-28). "Jan. 6 officers to campaign for Biden in battleground states - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  17. ^ Nowicki, Dan. "2 officers who defended Capitol on Jan. 6 coming to Arizona to warn about Trump". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  18. ^ "Jan. 6 officers hit the road for Harris, hoping to make Trump lose another election". NBC News. 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
  19. ^ Barber, Rachel. "Capitol police officer injured on Jan. 6 recounts riot to crowds at DNC". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-08-22.
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