House Democrat: Republicans ‘treating Capitol Police like shit’ were ‘the most scared’ during riot

A House Democrat slammed his fellow GOP lawmakers on Thursday, saying that some of them who have been downplaying the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 were the most afraid during the actual riot.

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) shared his thoughts in response to an MSNBC clip detailing how many Capitol police have felt disrespected by Republican congress members in the months following the insurrection.

“It’s true some GOP members of Congress who are treating Capitol Police like shit were the most scared on the floor,” Gallego tweeted.

It’s true some GOP members of Congress who are treating Capitol Police like shit were the most scared on the floor. Jody Hice took apart a hand sanitizer station to make into a club, Gosar & Biggs were the first to leave the floor and Rep. Clyde was screaming like a banshee. https://t.co/2xH5cGZmdM

— Ruben Gallego (@RubenGallego) June 18, 2021

Gallego went on to blast Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.), who he said “took apart a hand sanitizer station to make into a club,” out of fear during the riot, but has since said that supporters of former President Trump were victims that day.

Sarah Selip, a spokesperson for Hice, told the Hill in an emailed statement that Hice was not holding a hand sanitizer club on Jan. 6.

Gallego also recalled that Arizona GOP Reps. Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs “were the first to leave the floor.”

Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) was, according to Gallego, “screaming like a banshee” as rioters attempted to enter the Capitol, but earlier this week refused to shake the hand of a Washington police officer who suffered a mild heart attack while responding to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

On Tuesday, 21 Republicans voted against awarding Congressional Gold Medals to police officers who defended the Capitol on Jan. 6. It ultimately passed with a vote of 406-21 and will award four medals to be displayed at Capitol Police headquarters, the D.C. Metropolitan Police headquarters, the Smithsonian Institution and in a “prominent location” in the Capitol.

A version of the bill to award Congressional Gold Medals to the law enforcement agencies that helped defend the Capitol was passed in the House in March. Twelve Republicans voted against the legislation at that time.

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who voted against both versions of the bill, said Tuesday that the use of the term “insurrection” in the bill made him hesitant to vote for it.

“I think if we call that an insurrection, it could have a bearing on their case that I don’t think would be good,” Massie said at the time. “If they just wanted to give the police recognition, they could have done it without trying to make it partisan, without sticking that in there.”

Updated at 3:14 p.m.