Former DC cop who was assaulted by Capitol rioters said there's 'ample probable cause' for Trump to be indicted for his role in the insurrection

A former police officer who was beaten during the Capitol riot believes there is probable cause to indict Donald Trump.

Michael Fanone, a former Metropolitan Police Department officer, told CNN that if there is probable cause to suggest that he committed the crimes, he should be arrested. He should be tried if a grand jury indicts him.

The Washington, DC, police and US Capitol Police officers were present on January 6 when a mob of pro- Trump supporters broke into the building. Fanone told Congress that he developed post-traumatic stress disorder after the riot. Prosecutors said that Fanone was dragged down a set of stairs and beaten with a flag pole.

—Jim Acosta (@Acosta) July 2, 2022

Despite Joe Biden's election victory, organizers were encouraged by Trump's calls to protest. While members of Congress were meeting in the Capitol to certify the results and verify Biden's electoral win, Trump supporters staged an attempted coup.

The former president should be prosecuted by law enforcement, especially the Justice Department, according to Fanone.

Fanone said that he didn't have the best of hopes. "For a lot of people, accountability was more in the line of political accountability: that they felt they could avoid a trial, which could be very ugly for this country, especially with how divided things are now." I don't believe that is enough. I don't believe it's enough for most Americans.

"If you want to restore the credibility of the Department of Justice, we need to return to the rule of law, and my understanding is that no one in America is above the law," he said.

One police officer was killed in the Capitol riot. The Proud Boys are a hate group and were also present.

The insurrectionists deleted photos and social-media posts that proved they participated in the Capitol riot. Some broke their cellphones, scrubbed their social-media accounts, and tried to wipe their hard drives of evidence that they were involved.

It's easier for the FBI to catch and charge them if others boast of their involvement. More than 800 people have been charged in connection with the insurrection.