PA House descends into chaos as Republicans boo Capitol police officers

06 June 2024

Multiple Republican members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives walked out on and booed two former U.S. Capitol police officers who defended Congress during the January 6, 2021 insurrection.

Harry Dunn and Aquilino Gonell each served as Capitol police officers for more than a decade before leaving the force in 2023 and 2022, respectively. On Thursday, the Washington Post reported that Pennsylvania House Speaker Joanna McClinton (D) acknowledged Dunn and Gonell and invited members to welcome them to the chamber. While most members applauded and cheered, several Republicans were heard booing and jeering, while others left the chamber and refused to participate in honoring the two former law enforcement officers.

“I heard some hissing and I saw about eight to 10 of my Republican colleagues walk out angrily as they were announced as police officers from the U.S. Capitol on January 6,” Rep. Arvind Venkat (D) told the Post. “I was shocked and appalled."

Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D), who represents Philadelphia, confirmed in a post to his X/Twitter account that his Republican colleagues were disrespectful to Dunn and Gonell.

"A number of House Republicans literally booed, hissed, and walked off the floor," Kenyatta tweeted. "There is no bottom."

Rep. Emily Kinkead (D) of Pittsburgh also noticed the booing from Republicans. She tweeted that she was "dumbfounded" that her fellow lawmakers "disrespected these brave men by exiting the chamber during their recognition." Progressive activist J.J. Abbott said Republicans "stormed off the floor" and even called the officers who defended the U.S. Capitol from insurrectionists "traitors."

Bryan Cutler, who is Pennsylvania's House Republican Leader, disputed the accounts tweeted by Democratic legislators, and accused them of politicizing law enforcement. He opined that they were inappropriately "antagonizing members and inviting division and discord for their political and campaign purposes."

"I was on the House Floor yesterday and I personally spoke to both of the former officers at the Speaker’s rostrum," Cutler told the Post. "I and other members of our caucus also had their pictures taken with the former officers."

Republican caucus chairman George Dunbar also took issue with his colleagues' characterization of how Republicans responded to Dunn and Gonell, and said he personally had the "deepest respect" for law enforcement officers and the U.S. Capitol police.

Watch the video of Dunn and Gonell's reception in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives below, or by clicking this link.

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