Ex-DC cop Michael Fanone, assaulted in Jan. 6 Capitol attack, escorted after fiery altercation with conservative activist Ivan Raiklin

Michael Fanone, a former Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police officer who defended and was injured at the US Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack, was involved in a confrontation on Thursday, January 22 with conservative activist Ivan Raiklin during a congressional hearing featuring former special counsel Jack Smith. Video footage of the incident shows Fanone and Raiklin facing off before being briefly escorted out during Smith’s testimony, as other former police officers in attendance attempted to pull Fanone away.

“See how many people are restraining you, and look at me, totally in control over my mind and body,” Raiklin says to Fanone in the video. “This guy has threatened my family, threatened my children, threatened to rape my children, you sick bastard,” Fanone responds, pointing at Raiklin.



Following the confrontation, additional US Capitol Police officers were called into the hearing room to maintain order. Some officers were seen speaking with Raiklin. A short time later, Raiklin exited the room, though it remains unclear whether he was instructed to leave or did so voluntarily.

Raiklin is a conservative activist and conspiracy theorist who frequently appears on Capitol Hill to protest the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Tensions spill into hearing room

Later in the hearing, Fanone was seen coughing into his hands and appeared to say, “Go f— yourself,” as Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) addressed the room, according to The Hill. Nehls, speaking to former law enforcement officers present, blamed Capitol Police leadership for the events of January 6 rather than former President Donald Trump.

Fanone was violently assaulted during the Capitol riot, according to video evidence. One of his attackers, Daniel Rodriguez, was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for repeatedly using a stun gun on Fanone, as per DOJ documents. Fanone suffered a heart attack and a traumatic brain injury from the rioters’ assault.

Aftermath of January 6 attack

Fanone retired from the Metropolitan Police Department in 2021 after 20 years of service and has since become a prominent critic of the January 6 attack. He later testified before the House committee investigating the riot, and Democrats have frequently cited his experience as evidence that dozens of police officers were physically assaulted during the breach of the Capitol.