Capitol police officer who was brutally beaten during Jan 6. riot says Trump 'should never be allowed near the White House again'

Aquilino Gonell, a police officer who was beaten so badly he was forced to retire from law enforcement, said in an opinion article for The New York Times that he was betrayed by Donald Trump.

"Although I experienced firsthand the brutal onslaught of the insurrectionists, I was shocked to hear Ms. Hutchinson explain the extent to which former President Donald Trump encouraged them," Gonell wrote.

After conversations with Attorney General Bill Barr, Trump was throwing things, including his lunch, according to Hutchinson. She said he was angry that armed supporters weren't allowed at his rally and that the rioters weren't doing anything wrong.

Gonell said he was enraged by Hutchinson's testimony and the former president's disregard for everyone but himself while his armed supporters scaled fences, smashed glass and attacked Capitol police.

I was sure I was going to die that day because of the hordes of President Trump's supporters trying to stop the official transfer of power.

There were thousands of rioters on the Capitol grounds. The siege resulted in the deaths of five people and four police officers died by suicide.

Gonell didn't want to comment on the article.

I would have been justified in using lethal force. I wanted to avoid a massacre. The Iraq war veteran said his hands were bloodied from being smashed by a stolen police baton during the five hour struggle. I had to have multiple surgeries on my foot and shoulder. If it weren't for my helmet, my head would have been hit with a pipe.

Gonell was told by his doctor that he shouldn't serve on the police force because of the injuries he sustained during the attack.

It has upended my life because of the physical and emotional damage I sustained on January 6. More than 850 rioters were arrested and five of my colleagues were killed. A man's lust for power has ruined a lot of families.

The behavior of Republicans who downplay the significance of the insurrection and refuse to provide testimony under oath is "galling." Gonell applauded Hutchinson and those who have come forward to testify about the attack so far.

It's time for the enabling of Mr. Trump to stop. He shouldn't be allowed near the White House again, and he shouldn't be allowed to run for any other government office. "I believe he betrayed his oath to defend the Constitution, and it was to the detriment of me, my colleagues, and all Americans whom he was supposed to protect."