2 Lawmakers Say GOP Colleague Refused To Shake Hand Of Officer Hurt In Capitol Riot
When Rep. Andrew Clyde ran into Michael Fanone, who was beaten by rioters on Jan. 6, he wouldn’t shake his hand, according to two other congressmen.
Two congressmen said Wednesday that Rep.
Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) refused to shake the hand of a Washington, D.C., police officer who was beaten by members of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Clyde, who last month
tried to downplay the deadly riot as something akin to “a normal tourist visit,” was one of 21 House
Republicans who on Tuesday
voted against awarding a Congressional Gold Medal to all police officers who responded to the insurrection.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) said that D.C. police officer Michael Fanone ran into Clyde at the Capitol on Wednesday, introduced himself as “someone who fought to defend the Capitol” and put out his hand.
“Clyde refused to shake it. To honor Trump, [House Republicans] will dishonor the police,” Swalwell
tweeted.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, said he had called Fanone and confirmed the story. “This really is incredible,” Kinzinger said.
Clyde’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.