Washington, DC Officer Harry Dunn of the Capitol Police met a violent throng of supporters of former President Donald Trump almost three years ago to the day. He now aspires to become one of the many MPs he has worked to defend both on that day and in the years afterward.
Dunn began his candidature in Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District on Friday, the eve of the anniversary of the January 6, 2021, Capitol assault. He entered a heated Democratic primary to succeed retiring Democratic Representative John Sarbanes.
Before making his declaration on Thursday, Dunn stated over the phone that “it’s evident how much of a threat the extinction of our democracy is—it’s very present right now” because of what occurred on January 6 and all that followed.
He stated, “I think that our democracy is on the verge of extinction after just one more election cycle.”
In the months following the Capitol riot, Dunn, a 15-year member of the U.S. Capitol Police Department, narrated how he was physically attacked and subjected to racial epithets from the crowd.
At the House Jan. 6 committee’s first hearing, Dunn gave a moving speech and was frequently vocal about his and other officers’ experiences that day. To promote accountability, he authored a book this autumn and took part in many congressional hearings.
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Dunn has also been a regular in the federal courtroom, located not far from the Capitol, where he has been in court on several occasions and provided testimony in some of the more than 1,200 cases involving Jan. 6 suspects that are pending. Dunn testified during the Oath Keepers seditious conspiracy trial in 2022, and he and a few other cops were during former President Donald Trump’s initial court appearance in his prosecution on January 6, which took place throughout the summer.
“Dozens of our officers are down.” Stretchers are being used to remove them. Dunn addressed rioters in a video shown to the jury in the Oath Keepers case, saying, “Y’all are f—ing us up.”
During the trial, Dunn said, “I was distressed, I was angry, and I was scared.” “During the event, surviving was the only priority.”
After January 6, Dunn said it was hard to put on his police uniform and go to the Capitol, where he had gone through trauma that still haunts him. But when he considered whether to run for Congress, that experience was also one of his main sources of inspiration.
“As a Capitol Police officer, I was very limited to what I can do, to what I can say, the criticisms of members who I protect, who I disagree with,” Dunn said on Thursday.
“What more can I do that I haven’t done already as a police officer?” Later, Dunn added.”I get to sit at the table with them now that I’m running. Maybe I’m just a bothersome talking head now, but we can now work together as equals. Furthermore, I cannot be disregarded in that manner since I have a voice and a vote.”
Dunn, who quit the Capitol Police on December 17, will need to win the district’s Democratic primary, which is already crowded, to become that colleague. The seat is located south of Baltimore. At least one state legislator is among the ten Democratic contenders who have officially declared, and more may enter the contest.
“I am grateful for all of their efforts. We all have the same beliefs, in my opinion,” Dunn remarked. “But, I think I am the best candidate for this position right now because I have spent the last 15 years of my life defending democracy.”
In November, the winner of the Democratic primary would be the favorite. Based on estimations from Daily Kos Elections, Sarbanes won a ninth term in 2022 by 20 percentage points, and President Joe Biden carried the 3rd District by 26 points in 2020.
Dunn stated he would relocate to the district if elected, even though he does not already reside there.
When asked which concerns unique to Maryland he intends to highlight in his campaign, Dunn mentioned crime and mental health as well as infrastructure, citing the gridlock to get to Baltimore. However, he stated that his campaign will primarily focus on a larger range of topics, including gun control and abortion.
“Democracy is my platform,” declared Dunn.
