A member of the Capitol Police who became ‘the face’ of the injured and assaulted officers – to the anger of many of his colleagues – has announced that he is quitting the force and joining CNN.
Michael Fanone, 41, handed in his resignation on Monday and blasted his former colleagues who he claims believe their oath is to Donald Trump, rather than the American public.
He will leave on December 31 after 20 years on the force – five years short of being able to retire with benefits.
During the Capitol riot, Fanone was beaten by the mob attacking the seat of the federal government, and testified in July that he feared for his life.
‘I was among a vastly outnumbered group of law enforcement officers protecting the Capitol and the people in it, I was grabbed, beaten, tased, all while being called a traitor to my country,’ he testified on July 27.
‘I was at risk of being stripped of, and killed with, my own firearm as I heard chants of, ‘Kill him with his own gun!’ I can still hear those words in my head now.’
Michael Fanone is seen on December 12 attending the CNN Heroes gala in Manhattan. On Monday he resigned from the Capitol Police, and announced he is joining CNN as a law enforcement commentator
A panicked Fanone is seen in the midst of the pro-Trump mob, trying to storm the Capitol
Fanone is pictured being attacked by the mob on January 6, with his helmet ripped off by the frenzied crowd
After the riot Fanone became a frequent commentator on CNN – often on Don Lemon’s show. His colleagues were unimpressed, and Fanone told The Washington Post that he was mocked in online internal chat rooms.
Fanone was on the cover of the August 23-30 issue of Time magazine
‘Clearly there are some members of our department who feel their oath is to Donald Trump and not to the Constitution,’ Fanone said on Monday, adding that there are only two current D.C. police officers he still counts as friends.
Brian Stelter, CNN’s media correspondent, confirmed that Fanone would be joining the network in the new year.
‘A CNN rep confirms that Michael Fanone will start as an on-air contributor in January,’ Stelter tweeted.
Fanone voted for Donald Trump in 2016, but did not in November 2020, he said.
After the Capitol riot, he became a strident critic of the then-president.
In July, while testifying, he made headlines by slamming his fist on the table and berating those politicians who still refused to acknowledge the facts of the insurrection.
‘Nothing, truly nothing, has prepared me to address those elected members of our government who continue to deny the events of that day,’ he said.
‘And in doing so, betray their oath of office.’
Fanone is pictured on July 27, testifying before Congress
Fanone on July 27 delivered an impassioned speech, condemning the politicians who denied the facts of January 6
Fanone is seen on August 5, at a ceremony at the White House where Joe Biden honored law enforcement
Fanone was off work until September, receiving treatment for injuries both physical and mental.
He returned to work in the crime statistics division – not the training academy, as he had hoped.
Earlier this month he had his firearm and full arrest powers returned to him, which he told The Washington Post was important, to show he was not being forced out.
The mayor of Washington DC, Muriel Bowser, has not commented on his departure, and neither have the Capitol Police.