WASHINGTON — Among those inside the room when the January 6 Committee announced it was recommending criminal charges against former President Donald Trump was former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Aquilino Gonell.
The Iraq War veteran has served the USCP since he joined the department in 2006, but just recently announced he was stepping away from law enforcement.
“What [Trump] did, it was criminal on multiple levels,” Gonell said before entering the hearing room Monday.
Gonell said his physical and mental scars from defending the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 have yet to fully heal, which is why he decided to step away from his post. His last day was Saturday.
“In no good conscience of mine can I continue to put my welfare, my life, in danger for those people that continue to downplay what happened on January 6,” Gonell said.
Gonell is separating from the force after a 16-year career and one life-changing day defending the West Terrace of the US Capitol from rioters.
Gonell shared his survival story in WUSA9's special “Democracy Divided: Stories of the Capitol Riot.”
“When I started feeling like I was losing air, I came to a conclusion at a point, like okay, this could be my last hour,” Gonell said during filming in 2021. “I’m thinking I’m gonna die defending the Capitol. I was prepared for it.”
Gonell said the road to recovery from foot and shoulder injuries, as well as PTSD, has been long and painful. He said he's been retraumatized returning to work at the Capitol, where some Republican lawmakers continue to question the severity of what happened.
“When they relentlessly attack our actions, our sacrifices to keep them safe that day, it's traumatizing,” Gonell said.
On Monday, Gonell made one last trip to the Capitol, to witness the Jan. 6 Committee refer criminal charges against former President Trump, who Gonell believes ignited the riot.
“I hesitated giving back my ID, because I now had to find something else to do,” Gonell said, adding his the first step is a much-needed vacation.
Gonell said he also is writing a book about his journey as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic to Army soldier, U.S. Citizen, and ultimately the front lines of one of the darkest days in in our nation’s history.