An abusive and threatening voicemail was left on the cell of a police officer while he gave his televised testimony on the opening day of the January 6 committee.
Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who defended the U.S. Capitol from rioters, revealed the message during an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon on Tuesday evening.
The network broadcast the 57-second voicemail in full at the request of Officer Fanone, who Lemon said did not want the language to be censored.
In the message, a male voice is heard repeating homophobic slurs, making racist insults and stating baseless claims that Donald Trump had won the 2020 presidential election.
“You want an Emmy or an Oscar? What are you trying to go for here,” the caller said in an apparent reference to Fanone’s testimony. “You’re so full of sh**t.”
The caller repeated the phrase: “Too bad they didn’t beat the shit out of you more.”
He added: “That was sh** on the goddamn Capitol, I wish they would have killed all you scumbags cause you people are scum.”
Towards the end of the message, the caller said: “They stole the election from Trump and you know that you scumbag.”
Fanone suffered a traumatic brain injury, heart attack, concussion and was later diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder following the riot.
During his committee appearance, Fanone told that he was “grabbed, beaten, tased, all while being called a traitor to my country.”
He said the assault stopped only when he told the assailants he had children.
D.C.’s Metropolitan Police did not wish to comment when contacted by Newsweek.
Warning: This clip contains offensive language and false claims
DC Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone joins @donlemon in the studio tonight after his testimony to the Select Committee investigating January 6th.
Hear the shocking voicemail he received during his testimony – and a warning – the language is graphic. Listen: pic.twitter.com/U9AqFamzzr
— Don Lemon Tonight (@DonLemonTonight) July 28, 2021
Asked for his response to the message, Fanone said his immediate reaction to listening to it was: “This is what happens to people who tell the truth in Trump’s America.”
Asked if such things bothered him, he replied: “Unfortunately I’ve come to expect this type of response.
“It’s not the first time that people have expressed [to me] similar opinions. Unfortunately…there is an element in this country that believes that.”
Day 1 of the 1/6 Committee
A special congressional panel is investigating the January 6 insurrection, what led to it happening, and how such an attack might be prevented in the future.
On Tuesday, the opening day, the panel—consisting of seven Democrats and two Republicans—focused on law enforcement officers who served at the Capitol that day.
Graphic video of the hand-to-hand fighting was shown and each officer called gave detail about the resistance they encountered trying to prevent people entering the Capitol and reaching lawmakers.
Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who is Black, spoke about the racist slurs the crowd called him. Dunn, said, “No one had ever-ever-called me a n****r while wearing the uniform of a Capitol Police officer” before January 6.
After the hearing wrapped up, chair Bennie Thompson told reporters that the select committee will issue subpoenas soon. He did not name the recipients.
He also said members will meet with Attorney General Merrick Garland to gather relevant information and that the committee would “follow the facts.”
Oliver Contreras/Getty Images
