House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Thursday he is open to meeting Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who was injured during the Capitol riot, after Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) claimed McCarthy’s office “hung up on” the officer.
McCarthy said at a press conference Thursday morning during an event at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in D .C. that he just learned about Fanone’s request and would “like to meet with him.”
McCarthy’s office pushed back against claims by Swalwell on Wednesday that the officer was hung up on when trying to set up a meeting with the minority leader.
“Officer Fanone called our office and spoke with our staff who then offered to provide the email address of our director of operations. He was not hung up on,” Michele Perez Exner, a member of McCarthy’s communications team tweeted Wednesday.
Swalwell tweeted Wednesday that Fanone was upset and was hung up on by McCarthy’s office.
“I just spoke with a very upset Officer Michael Fanone. It’s #PoliceWeek and for weeks Ofc. Fanone has made multiple requests to talk to @GOPLeader. He wants to show McCarthy what he experienced on 1/6. Today he was hung up on by McCarthy’s staff,” Swalwell tweeted.
A spokesperson for McCarthy told The Hill that Exner’s “tweet is accurate” and pointed to McCarthy’s comment at the press conference Thursday.
Swalwell’s office has not responded for comment.
New body camera footage from Fanone during the Capitol riot was released on Wednesday and showed Fanone pleading for his life telling the rioters he has kids while they were attacking him.
Fanone was knocked unconscious by the rioters and had his gear and other equipment stolen from him.