Democratic lawmakers are still calling for accountability after former President Donald Trump's lies about the validity of the 2020 election—which were largely embraced by their Republican colleagues—prompted a deadly failed insurrection against the United States Capitol.
On the day after the riots, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick passed away. Though the D.C. medical examiner's office ruled his death was due to a "natural" series of artery-clot induced strokes, it conceded "all that transpired played a role in his condition." The assessment that Sicknick's death was natural has sparked debate, given that extreme stress can induce strokes. Forensic pathologist Dr. Cyril Wecht said he was "shocked" and "amazed" at the ruling of a natural death.
Sicknick's mother, Gladys Sicknick, pleaded with Senate Republicans last month to vote in favor of establishing a bipartisan commission to investigate the Capitol Riots, but the motion was struck down thanks to the lack of 60 votes mandated by the Senate filibuster.
Now, Sicknick's longtime partner—Sandra Garza—is calling them out for their efforts to protect former President Donald Trump, whose months-long smear campaign against American elections helped spark the riots.
Watch below.
Brian Sicknick's Partner: 'We Need To Get To The Root Cause' Of Jan. 6www.youtube.com
Garza, who voted for Trump, told CNN's Hallie Jackson:
"This is pure protection of Donald Trump. They don't want a full commission because they know it would expose Donald Trump for inciting a riot that day."
She continued:
"In my opinion I think Donald Trump was the gun and those people were the trigger for him for that day. As far as I'm concerned, Donald Trump has blood on his hands for the people that died that day, as well as the suicides that occurred after. ... I absolutely, 100 percent, hold Donald Trump accountable for that day."
People heartily agreed.
I agree with her.https://twitter.com/AhmedBaba_/status/1402632377604661253\u00a0\u2026— Rose McDonald (@Rose McDonald) 1623259483
She\u2019s right....https://twitter.com/ahmedbaba_/status/1402632377604661253\u00a0\u2026— Sandra Morris (@Sandra Morris) 1623258352
https://twitter.com/ahmedbaba_/status/1402632377604661253\u00a0\u2026— G daddy (@G daddy) 1623257963
I'm with Her.....DJT DEFINITELY has Blood on his hands.https://twitter.com/AhmedBaba_/status/1402632377604661253\u00a0\u2026— Living & Loving LIFE!\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffe\u2764 (@Living & Loving LIFE!\ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffe\u2764) 1623257155
She\u2019s correct.— Mark Tomlin (@Mark Tomlin) 1623257824
I have so much respect for her. She surprised me bc I thought she was going to go the other way and make excuses for the terrorists & for Trump, but she does not. I'm so grateful for that.\n\nTrump will never meet w her; he's a coward.— Lefty Patriot (@Lefty Patriot) 1623197659
Republicans continue to face backlash for blocking the commission.
#Republicans have got it all wrong about blocking the 1/6 Commission because they think they wont face investigation before 2022 Midterms. Sorry Idiots, you just woke up more Americans to get to the Truth! We have Twitter & we are all going to bring it up every day! #Insurrection— Dan Pereira (@Dan Pereira) 1622386875
It's flat out insane how hard Republicans are fighting against the 1/6 commission to open an in-depth investigation to find out what led to people *storming the US Capitol.*\n\nJust typing that out makes me feel like I've lost my mind, but that is where Republicans are right now.— Josh Jordan (@Josh Jordan) 1622233992
By filibustering the Jan. 6 commission, the Republicans appeased Trump once again. They quiver in fear of the man who cost them the presidency and both houses of Congress. As I write here, it\u2019s worse than their failures to convict Trump on impeachment charges:https://twitter.com/PostOpinions/status/1400228005457317899\u00a0\u2026— George Conway (@George Conway) 1622716670
House Democrats may form a select committee to investigate the riots instead.
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