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Mystery grows over Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick's death

Mystery is growing around police officer Brian Sicknick's death, as investigators struggle to prove it was caused by someone at the Capitol siege.

Ben Graham, Alexis Carey and Sam Clench
less than 2 min read
February 4, 2021 - 5:25PM
Joe Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki refuses to apologise for Space Force remarks (CBSN)

Mystery is growing around police officer Brian Sicknick's death, as investigators struggle to find evidence that it was caused by someone at the US Capitol siege on January 6. 

Authorities have reviewed video and photographs that show Mr Sicknick engaging with rioters as he defended the Capitol, but are yet to identify the moment he suffered his fatal injuries, law enforcement officials familiar with the matter told CNN. 

In a statement on January 7, the day after the insurrection, Capitol Police said that the officer had been "injured while physically engaging with protesters" and collapsed as a result of his injuries after returning to his office.

He died the next day in a local hospital. 

To date, little information has been shared publicly about the circumstances of his death, including any findings from an autopsy conducted by DC's medical examiner. 

It's largely been reported that the officer of 13 years was struck by a fire extinguisher and that's what caused his fatal injuries. 

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has been accused of breaking one of his major campaign promises to offer $2000 relief cheques to American households.

In his proposed $US1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, Joe Biden is pushing for direct payments of $1400 to American households, supplementing the $600 payments they got in the previous package a couple of months ago.

However, this is not what Mr Biden and the Democrats promised in the lead-up to the special Senate elections in Georgia. Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock both campaigned on the promise that they would support $2000 payments.

The argument we're getting from the Democrats now is that they meant $2000 in total, counting the previous $600 cheques.

Read on for all the latest news from the US.

Updates

Republican keeps job after supporting Trump impeachment

House Republican Conference chair Liz Cheney has held onto her job despite a push to remove her over her support for Donald Trump's second impeachment.

A secret ballot over her leadership took place today, with 145 voting to keep her, and 61 hoping to oust her.

Ms Cheney, the third most powerful Republican in the US House of Representatives, vocally supported the impeachment as a result of the January 6 riots.

"On January 6, 2021 a violent mob attacked the United States Capitol to obstruct the process of our democracy and stop the counting of presidential electoral votes. This insurrection caused injury, death and destruction in the most sacred space in our Republic," she said after the insurrection.

"Much more will become clear in coming days and weeks, but what we know now is enough. The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the President. The President could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not. There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.

"I will vote to impeach the President."

Scott Morrison holds first call with Joe Biden

Scott Morrison discussed reaching net zero emissions with Joe Biden during a “warm and engaging” first conversation with the new US President, who is “enthusiastic” about visiting Australia.

Mr Morrison denied Canberra was at loggerheads with the new administration over climate change despite Mr Biden joining a number of major powers in committing to net zero emissions by 2050.

The Prime Minister has been reticent to commit to the target but insisted his government would work closely with Washington on technology to reduce emission reductions.

“We had a very positive discussion about the path we’re on and the commitments that we’ve made,” he told reporters today.

“We’re very focused on the technological challenge … joining Australia and the United States.

“They are going to be investing significantly in those technologies. And I was pleased to be able to say we were doing exactly the same thing.”
Labor has argued Mr Biden's election provided an opening for Australia to set more ambitious climate goals.

He said conversations had already begun between Energy Minister Angus Taylor and John Kerry, Mr Biden's climate tsar, over ways to achieve net zero.

The Prime Minister has invited Mr Biden to visit on the 70th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty, signed in April 1951.

"He told me he needs no special reason to come to Australia, he loves the place," Mr Morrison said.
– Finn McHugh, NCA NewsWire

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Mystery grows over riot death

Mystery is growing around police officer Brian Sicknick's death, as investigators struggle to find evidence that it was caused by someone at the US Capitol siege on January 6. 

Authorities have reviewed video and photographs that show Mr Sicknick engaging with rioters as he defended the Capitol, but are yet to identify the moment he suffered his fatal injuries, law enforcement officials familiar with the matter told CNN. 

Picture: AFP Photo/US Capitol Police

In a statement on January 7, the day after the insurrection, Capitol Police said that the officer had been "injured while physically engaging with protesters" and collapsed as a result of his injuries after returning to his office.

He died the next day in a local hospital. 

To date, little information has been shared publicly about the circumstances of his death, including any findings from an autopsy conducted by DC's medical examiner. 

It's largely been reported that the officer of 13 years was struck by a fire extinguisher and that's what caused his fatal injuries. 

The fallen officer was brought to the Capitol to lie in honour in the building's rotunda.
A viewing period for the 42-year-old was held for members of the Capitol Police overnight and another for members of Congress began on Wednesday morning (local time), before a tribute from politicians and a ceremonial departure to Arlington National Cemetery, the Associated Press reported.

Biden's subtle dig at Ivanka

Joe Biden has taken a subtle dig at former First Daughter Ivanka Trump and the role she played in her father’s administration.

Accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden in their first interview since moving into the White House last month, the US President told People he intends to “run” his time in office “like the Obama-Biden administration”, referring to his eight-year stint as Vice President from 2008 to 2016.

In a nod to his predecessor Donald Trump’s time in office, however, he added that “no one in our family and extended family is going to be involved in any government undertaking or foreign policy”.

“And nobody,” Mr Biden said, “has an office in the place.”

The comments have raised eyebrows over whether Mr Biden was referring to Mr Trump’s tendency to hire family members for key positions in the Oval Office, particularly 39-year-old Ivanka, who served as an adviser to her father from 2017 onwards.

Listed on the White House website as “adviser to the president” and focusing on the “education and economic empowerment of women and their families”, Ms Trump had her own chief of staff and an office in the West Wing which officials compared to “walking into an Apple store”.

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Capitol Rioter's crazy request to judge

A woman who is facing charges over the deadly US Capitol riot has made a ridiculous request to the judge presiding over her case.

Jenny Cudd, a Texas flower shop owner, live streamed herself storming the US Capitol on January 6.

Ms Cudd is facing two charges, including knowingly entering a restricted building and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

She was released shortly after her arrest in January ahead of her trial.

Now Mr Cudd has revealed she had a four-day holiday to Mexico planned before she decided to storm the Capitol – and she is still hoping she can go.

In a motion filed in federal court on Monday, Ms Cudd’s lawyer asked whether she could still attend the work-related retreat, noting that his client had prepaid for the trip, according to The Washington Post.

“This is a work-related bonding retreat for employees and their spouses,” Ms Cudd’s lawyer Farheena Siddiqui wrote.

“Ms Cudd has appeared at her scheduled court appearance, remains in constant contact with her attorney, and has remained in contact with pre-trial probation, as ordered.”

A decision is yet to be made on whether Ms Cudd can go on her planned holiday.

Draped in a Trump flag, Ms Cudd bragged about how she and other rioters forced their way into the building during a live video on Facebook.

“I want to let you know what actually happened today. When Pence betrayed us is when we decided to storm the Capitol,” she said in the video.

“We did break down Nancy Pelosi’s office door. Somebody stole her gavel and took a picture sitting in the chair, flipping off the camera.”

She added: “F**k yes, I am proud of my actions, I f***ing charged the Capitol today with patriots today. Hell, yes, I am proud of my actions.”

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McCarthy breaks silence on QAnon Congresswoman

Republican Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy, has finally broken his silence on the controversy surrounding QAnon conspiracy theorist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Mr McCarthy has been criticised for refusing to take action against Ms Greene, who has publicly suggested the 9/11 terrorist attack was a hoax, former President Barack Obama is Muslim and that the Clintons are murderers.

A vote will take place tomorrow to decide whether the congresswoman should be stripped of her committee assignments.

After being heavily criticised for staying silent about Ms Greene's comments, Mr McCarthy has finally released a statement condemning her views.

“Past comments from and endorsed by Marjorie Taylor Greene on school shootings, political violence, and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories do not represent the values or beliefs of the House Republican Conference, the Minority Leader said in a statement.

"I condemn those comments unequivocally. I condemned them in the past. I continue to condemn them today. This House condemned QAnon last Congress and continues to do so today."

Picture: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP
McCarthy acknowledged that Ms Greene's comments have "caused deep wounds to many" before going on to accuse Democrats of choosing to "raise the temperature" instead of working together to find a solution.

“I understand that Marjorie’s comments have caused deep wounds to many and as a result, I offered Majority Leader Hoyer a path to lower the temperature and address these concerns," McCarthy said.

"Instead of coming together to do that, the Democrats are choosing to raise the temperature by taking the unprecedented step to further their partisan power grab regarding the committee assignments of the other party.

“While Democrats pursue a resolution on Congresswoman Greene, they continue to do nothing about Democrats serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee who have spread anti-Semitic tropes, Democrats on the House Intelligence and Homeland Security Committee compromised by Chinese spies, or the Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee who advocated for violence against public servants."

Pelosi attacks Republicans for their handling of QAnon Congresswoman

The House of Representatives' Rules Committee has been meeting to discuss revoking Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's committee assignments.

The more important event to watch is the vote on the floor of the House tomorrow.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has released a statement having a go at Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, for his handling of Ms Greene and her conspiracy theories.

"After several conversations and literally running away from reporters, Kevin McCarthy made clear that he is refusing to take action against conspiracy theorist Marjorie Taylor Greene," Ms Pelosi said.

"As a result, the House will continue with a vote to strip Greene of her seat on the esteemed House Committee on Education and Labour and House Committee on Budget.

"McCarthy's failure to lead his party effectively hands the keys over to Greene – an anti-Semite, QAnon adherent and 9/11 truther."

Ms Pelosi also took another sneaky swipe at the Republican Minority Leader and the QAnon conspiracy theory by referring to him as McCarthy (Q-CA) instead of (R-CA).

President Biden's first broken promise?

I'd like to draw your attention to another moment from Jen Psaki's media briefing, because it's an issue that hasn't got enough attention.

In his proposed $US1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, Joe Biden is pushing for direct payments of $1400 to American households, supplementing the $600 payments they got in the previous package a couple of months ago.

This is not what Mr Biden and the Democrats promised in the lead-up to the special Senate elections in Georgia. Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock both campaigned on the promise that they would support $2000 payments.

The argument we're getting from the Democrats now is that they meant $2000 in total, counting the previous $600 cheques.

"There were $600 payments, as you know, in the $900 billion package that passed in December. This is $1400. Together that's $2000, so it would be delivering on the promise he made," Ms Psaki said today when she was asked whether Mr Biden was breaking a promise.

This is a misrepresentation. The Democrats did not, in fact, promise voters in Georgia $1400 cheques on top of the existing $600 ones. They explicitly, repeatedly promised $2000 payments, without any asterisk.

"If you send Jon and the Reverend to Washington, those $2000 cheques will go out the door, restoring hope and decency and honour for so many people who are struggling right now," Mr Biden said at one campaign event, for example.

"They should send $2000 cheques to the American people right now, because people are hurting," Mr Ossoff said at another.

Here is an example of the sort of ad the candidates were running (profanity warning).

“In my opinion as a person who does marketing, advertising, and public communications as my job, I would confidently say their messaging implied an additional $2000, not $2000 minus $600,” progressive organiser Rachel Kahn told Mediaite last month.

The publication also spoke to Rogelio Linares, who knocked on over 1000 doors ahead of the special elections, canvassing on behalf of the Democratic candidates.

“At the doors, I was literally telling people, ‘$2000 cheques, you can rely on this.’ I’m a man of principle and morals and I feel like s***," he said.

"I lied to them. I was lying to them the whole time. I was lying to people that were relying on this. At the time I didn’t know it was a lie. But that was not the reality.”

Some of those voters Mr Linares spoke to are going to be less than impressed if the cheque they actually get is only worth $1400.

Biden says 'entire nation' mourns Capitol Police officer's death

Earlier we mentioned the memorial service for fallen Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, which was held in the rotunda.

The President paid his respects in person last night. Today he posted this online.

Congressman says he would resign to represent Trump in trial

Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz has told Steve Bannon's War Room podcast he would be willing to resign from his seat to let him represent Donald Trump in the upcoming impeachment trial, if the former president asked.

Mr Gaetz, a lawyer, said he had asked the House Ethics Committee whether he would be allowed to represent Mr Trump while remaining a member of Congress, and the answer was no.

"I love my district. I love representing them. But I view this cancellation of the Trump presidency, and the Trump movement, as one of the major risks to my people. Both in my district, and all throughout this great country," Mr Gaetz said.

"Absolutely if the president called me and wanted me to go defend him on the floor of the Senate, that would be the top priority in my life. I would leave my House seat, I would leave my home, I would do anything I had to do to ensure the greatest president in my lifetime got a full-throated defence."

Mr Trump, of course, has already chosen different legal representation.

Read related topics:Donald TrumpJoe Biden
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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/world/north-america/us-politics/us-politics-impeachment-trial-ominous-sign-that-donald-trump-is-not-giving-up/live-coverage/147c8b4fcbdf72fd6736c4a25dc5ddfc