Daniel Hodges (police officer)

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Daniel Hodges
P20230106AS-1778 (52645300703).jpg
Hodges receiving the Presidential Citizens Medal from Joe Biden in 2023
OccupationWashington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officer
Honours Presidential Citizens Medal

Daniel Hodges is an American officer of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department who is known for defending the U.S. Capitol building and its occupants during the January 6, 2021, attack. During the attack, he was crushed by rioters who had stolen police shields and pinned him against a wall. Afterwards, he testified on his experience in multiple trials over the attack, as well as to the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack. He was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2023.

Contents

Career

In 2014, Hodges joined the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). [1]

January 6, 2021, Capitol attack

On January 6, 2021, a mob of supporters of Donald Trump violently attempted to stop the certification of Electoral College votes that would confirm Trump's opponent, Joe Biden, to be the winner of the 2020 presidential election. The certification took place in the U.S. Capitol building. [1] It was Hodges' first time in the building. His radio was also stolen and he was separated from his platoon. [2] His police baton was stolen by a man named Steven Cappuccio, who then attacked Hodges with it. [3] At one point, a man grabbed Hodges' face and attempted to gouge out one of Hodges' eyes with his thumb. [4]

Eventually, the mob fought police, both MPD and U.S. Capitol Police, in the lower west tunnel leading into the building. Hodges tried to stop the rioters from entering the West Terrace doors. Rioters took police shields that they had stolen and pinned Hodges against a door frame, crushing him and beating his head against the door. Hodges was screaming, bleeding from the mouth, [3] and it was hard for him to breathe. Rioter Steven Cappuccio took off Hodges' gas mask and put his own phone in his (Cappuccio's) mouth so he could attack Hodges with both hands. Hodges then moved out of the fight, being pulled out by another office. Hodges received a concussion from the attack. [2] [4] [5] [6] Afterwards, he sought medical attention and had an MRI. [7]

Aftermath

Forbes wrote: "The video of Hodges’ assault has become one of the most prominent examples of the violence and bloodshed of the Capitol riot [...]]". It was played during Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in early 2021. [3] Later that year, Hodges testified before in public hearings before the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on his experiences during the attack. [1] [6] Footage of Hodges being crushed played frequently during the hearings. [8]

In January 2023, Hodges was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President Joe Biden for his defence of the Capitol. [9]

In August 2022, Hodges testified and provided body camera footage in a court case in New Mexico on the removal of Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin for participating in the attack; the removal was successful. [1] Also in August 2022, Hodges testified against Patrick McCaughey in an assault trial; McCaughey was one of those who had stolen a shield and crushed Hodges. [2] In April 2023, McCaughey was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison. [10] Also in 2023, Steven Cappuccio was put on trial for attacking Hodges; his lawyer argued Cappuccio attacked Hodges because of PTSD. The strategy was unsuccessful, and in November 2023, he was sentenced to 7 years in prison. [11] [3] In October 2023, Hodges testified during the attack at a court case in Colorado over whether Trump was ineligible to be on the state's ballot for the 2024 presidential election. [4] [12] His was the first testimony during the trial. [13] Trump was eventually ruled ineligible, but the decision was overturned by the Supreme Court. [14]

In 2024, Hodges, along with Harry Dunn and Aquilino Gonell, who also defended the Capitol, campaigned for the Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign; when Biden dropped out of the race, they campaigned for Kamala Harris's campaign. [15] [16] [17]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hodges, Daniel (2024-03-21). "I defended the Capitol from Trump's mob. I know he's an insurrectionist". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  2. 1 2 3 "D.C. Officer Daniel Hodges testifies against Capitol rioter who 'crushed' him with shield". NBC News. 2022-08-30. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Solender, Andrew. "Capitol Rioter Charged With Beating D.C. Officer Daniel Hodges With His Own Baton". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  4. 1 2 3 Marley, Patrick (2023-10-31). "Police officers recall Jan. 6 at Colorado hearing to kick Trump off ballot". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  5. ↑ Whittington, JC (July 28, 2022). "'No closure yet': Officer Daniel Hodges wants Trump to be held accountable". Politico. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Seddiq, Oma. "'I cried out in pain': DC police officer Daniel Hodges recounts when he was crushed by rioters between a door on January 6". Business Insider. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  7. ↑ "Jan. 6 rioter who ripped officer's gas mask in 'sadistic' attack sentenced to 7 years". NBC News. 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  8. ↑ "Jan. 6 rioter who ripped officer's gas mask in 'sadistic' attack sentenced to 7 years". NBC News. 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  9. ↑ "Biden to award Citizens Medal to 12 on Jan. 6 anniversary". AP News. 2023-01-05. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  10. ↑ "Jan. 6 rioter sentenced to more than 7 years for officer assault". ABC News. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  11. ↑ "Jan. 6 rioter who ripped officer's gas mask in 'sadistic' attack sentenced to 7 years". NBC News. 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  12. ↑ "Donald Trump's Colorado ballot challenge trial begins with each side warning of an attack on democracy". The Denver Post. 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  13. ↑ "'Horrific': Harrowing police testimony opens trial to remove Trump from ballot in 2024". Law & Crime. 2023-10-30. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  14. ↑ Liptak, Adam (March 4, 2024). "Trump Prevails in Supreme Court Challenge to His Eligibility". The New York Times. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Jan. 6 officers hit the road for Harris, hoping to make Trump lose another election". NBC News. 2024-08-08. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  16. ↑ Tausche, Kayla (2024-05-28). "Biden reelection campaign enlists January 6 police officers to campaign in key swing states". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  17. ↑ "Biden campaign taps Jan. 6 officers to campaign in battleground states ahead of presidential debate". NBC News. 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
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