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Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton issued the following statement marking the first anniversary of the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021:

“On this anniversary of one of the darkest days in our country’s history, I’m thinking about the bravery of those who defended our Capitol, the people from across our region who are still grappling with the trauma they experienced on Capitol Hill that day, and the feeling of lost innocence we shared as a nation as we witnessed this horrific assault on our democracy.

“We remember those who lost their lives in the line of duty: U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, and U.S. Capitol Police Officer Howie Liebengood and D.C. Metropolitan Police Department Officer Jeffrey Smith who died by suicide in the days following the attack. Howie was a constituent who served the Capitol for over fifteen years. In partnership with the Liebengood family, who have courageously channeled their grief into advocacy, we’ve since rededicated the USCP Wellness Center in Howie’s honor and expanded mental health support and funding for USCP officers. We are also advocating for changes to line of duty designations and pushing for broader mental health services for law enforcement agencies across the country.

“It is essential that we take action to strengthen our democracy which was shaken to its core by violent insurrectionists one year ago today. That’s why, as we continue to strive for healing, we will likewise continue to press forward in our demands for truth and accountability.”

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