Washington (CNN) A DC Metropolitan Police officer who was brutally assaulted while defending the US Capitol during the January 6 insurrection said Thursday evening that it's been "disgraceful" to watch elected officials downplay the riot in recent days. Michael Fanone, who was stun-gunned several times and beaten with a flagpole during the attack, told CNN's Don Lemon on "CNN Tonight" that "I'm not a politician. The hearing followed House Republicans' ouster of Rep. Liz Cheney from her leadership post after she repeatedly denounced Trump's "Big Lie" that the 2020 election was stolen. Some defended the rioters and cast them as the victims instead of the perpetrators of a deadly insurrection that included attacks on police officers like Fanone. "Peddling that bullsh*t is an assault on every officer that fought to defend the Capitol," Fanone said Thursday.

Source: CNN May 14, 2021 04:18 UTC