Do the Democrats Know Something? | 11/3/22

Do the Democrats Know Something? | 11/3/22

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick's mom says son died of a stroke, not a blow to the head — but authorities are staying mum



The mother of fallen Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick — whose death following the riot at the U.S. Capitol earlier this year became a rallying cry for many insisting that former President Donald Trump be impeached — is now speaking out about the erroneous reporting regarding her son's death.

In an interview with the Daily Mail published Monday, 74-year-old Gladys Sicknick said she believes her son may have suffered a fatal stroke during the riot, but unequivocally denied that he was killed due to being bludgeoned by a fire extinguisher, as has been widely reported.

Troublingly, she also noted that though it's been more than a month since the riot, the family still remains in the dark about key details involving her son's death.

"He wasn't hit on the head, no," Gladys Sicknick told the outlet. "We think he had a stroke, but we don't know anything for sure. We'd love to know what happened."

In the initial report of Brian Sicknick's death, Capitol Police said only that Sicknick was "injured while physically engaging with protesters" during the riot.

"He returned to his division office and collapsed," the memo added, noting that he was "taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries."

But the following day, the New York Times published an explosive story, based on the flimsy account of two anonymous law enforcement officials, claiming that Sicknick, 42, died after being struck in the head with a fire extinguisher. That story set off a firestorm of anger and grandstanding, as anti-Trump lawmakers and mainstream media members alike branded the riot a murderous insurrection.

Without verifying facts about the case, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) called for the "perpetrators" of Sicknick's death to be "brought to justice," and emphatically labeled the riot as a "violent and deadly act of insurrection."

The Associated Press parroted the Times report, and Slate ran an article with the headline: "Police Officer That Rioters Hit With Fire Extinguisher Dies, Making Capitol Siege a Murder Scene."

Yet a month later, a major development in the case occurred when medical examiners reportedly did not find any evidence of blunt force trauma during the autopsy. But the development, which seemed to counteract the narrative of a murderous insurrection, has been largely passed over by mainstream media organizations. The New York Times eventually updated their article, albeit quietly.

Investigators are now reportedly exploring various other causes of death, including the possibility that Sicknick became ill after ingesting a chemical irritant such as pepper spray, or perhaps had a pre-existing condition that was exacerbated during his confrontation with rioters.

Yet what has been true for more than a month since the riot remains true today: Authorities are staying quiet.

CNN report finds deceased Capitol Police officer didn't suffer blunt force trauma, wasn't struck by fire extinguisher



There is an important detail regarding the Capitol riots that is buried in the eighth paragraph of a CNN article with the headline: "Investigators struggle to build murder case in death of US Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick."

The article states that U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who died during the storming of the U.S. Capitol building, was not killed by blunt force trauma. This is a contradiction of previous reporting by various media outlets that said the Capitol Police officer was killed by being struck in the head with a fire extinguisher.

From the CNN article:

According to one law enforcement official, medical examiners did not find signs that the officer sustained any blunt force trauma, so investigators believe that early reports that he was fatally struck by a fire extinguisher are not true.

The report notes that Sicknick's cause of death is still not known, adding that the "findings from a medical examiner's review have not yet been released and authorities have not made any announcements about that ongoing process."

Investigators are reportedly looking into the possibility that Sicknick became violently ill after coming in contact with a chemical irritant such as pepper spray or bear spray. Medical examiners are also trying to determine if Sicknick possibly had a preexisting medical condition that negatively affected him during the Capitol riots on Jan. 6.

The report revealed that authorities are "struggling to build a federal murder case" in Sicknick's death because there is a "lack of evidence that could prove someone caused his death."

Law enforcement is said to have "reviewed video and photographs that show Sicknick engaging with rioters amid the siege but have yet to identify a moment in which he suffered his fatal injuries."

This new report is a contradiction from earlier reporting by news outlets that said Sicknick died because he was struck in the head with a fire extinguisher "during a struggle."

The New York Times reported on Jan. 8: "At some point in the chaos — with the mob rampaging through the halls of Congress while lawmakers were forced to hide under their desks — he was struck with a fire extinguisher, according to two law enforcement officials."

On the same day, the Associated Press reported: "Sicknick, 42, was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher during a struggle, two law enforcement officials said, although it was not clear if he was the officer shown in the video."

Slate featured an article with the headline: "Police Officer That Rioters Hit With Fire Extinguisher Dies, Making Capitol Siege a Murder Scene."

The New York Daily News ran a story with the headline: "Hero Capitol Police cop killed by blow to the head with a fire extinguisher during Trump-inspired riot."

There was footage from the Capitol riots showing a man toss a fire extinguisher at a group of Capitol Police officers. It is not known if Sicknick was in that group.

Robert Sanford, the man seen in the video attacking the police with the fire extinguisher, was arrested on Jan. 14 by federal authorities. He was charged with assaulting a police officer, Milton reports.

"Sanford is not suspected in the death of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick," CBS News reported last month.

Protesters Throw Fire Extinguisher as They Break Through Police Barrier on US Capitol Steps. via @Storyful https://t.co/fbMTFhCbpA
— David Clinch (@David Clinch)1610320682.0

On Feb 2, Officer Brian Sicknick was honored in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, only the fifth American to ever lie in honor in the Capitol. The cremated remains of the fallen 12-year Capitol Police veteran were later escorted to Arlington National Cemetery.

Sicknick, 42, was a New Jersey native and former member of the Air National Guard, who was deployed two times overseas.

Tonight, the remains of fallen U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick — a native of NJ & Air Force National Gua… https://t.co/dCs9bBIQcD
— Rep Josh Gottheimer (@Rep Josh Gottheimer)1612323463.0