Derrick Evans, who took part in the group that stormed the U.S. Capitol, is aiming for a permanent seat in Congress after his involvement as a former West Virginia lawmaker.
On the other hand, Police Officer Harry Dunn, who defended the Capitol during the riot on January 6, 2021, was deeply disturbed by the events. He later saw lawmakers he had protected vote to acquit former President Donald Trump, denying the seriousness of the violence and the trauma that led to the deaths of fellow officers.
This Tuesday, both Evans and Dunn are running for U.S. House seats in their state primaries. They have vastly different views on what happened that day, and the results of these primaries in West Virginia and Maryland could indicate how public opinion about the attack and its significance has evolved.
Harry Dunn listens to the investigation (Via Corey Jones/Shutterstock)
During the Capitol siege, rioters terrorized the building for hours, using weapons like pipes, bats, and bear spray. They turned flagpoles into weapons, viciously attacked police officers, and called for the hanging of Vice President Mike Pence. They smashed through windows and doors as lawmakers rushed to safety.
One individual from Georgia boasted about handing a police officer over to the mob. Over 100 police officers were injured, and many were severely beaten. Nine people died during and after the riot, including a rioter shot by police.
To date, more than 1,350 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. About 850 of them have been sentenced, with prison terms ranging from a few days to 22 years for roughly two-thirds of those sentenced.
