Former Capitol police officers hit the trail as busy Harris campaign surrogates

Source: CBS News

October 29, 2024 / 8:03 AM EDT


At 6 feet 7 inches, former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn had to slouch slightly when he spoke beneath the navy blue canopy and greeted Democratic Party volunteers with a "what's up, y'all?" Speaking in Gaston County, North Carolina, earlier this month, the former James Madison University football player was a familiar face to the crowd.

Talking with volunteers who were preparing to go door to door for Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democratic candidates, Dunn said his campaign efforts this year have been an attempt "to turn lemons into lemonade." He was referring to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Dunn recounted his efforts to repel the rioting mob that day. He said rioters had hurled racial epithets at him and he's experienced trauma from that day. He told North Carolina Democrats that all of the police who responded Jan. 6 are heroes. The crowd applauded when Dunn said, "The No. 1 thing we have to do is stop Donald Trump." The former president continues to make baseless claims about the Capitol riot and the 2020 election.

Since the Jan. 6 riot, Dunn has testified before Congress and in court for some of the prosecutions of Jan. 6 defendants, and he's written a book about his experience. His increasing fame has made him a popular surrogate for candidates — in the same league as some Democratic governors and members of Congress.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/capitol-police-officers-harris-campaign-surrogates/