The special House committee investigating the deadly January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol heard testimony for the first time Tuesday. Four officers who were on the scene recounted the harrowing events of the day, after a mob of Trump-instigated rioters breached the government building in an attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s electoral victory. This is Capitol Police officer Aquilino Gonell.

Sgt. Aquilino Gonell: “What we were subjected to that day was like something from a medieval battle. We fought hand to hand, inch by inch, to prevent an invasion of the Capitol by a violent mob intent on subverting our democratic process.”

Officer Michael Fanone, who was violently dragged into the mob, beaten and shocked with a Taser, said he and his family are still grappling with the trauma from that day. He also confronted the ongoing dismissal and denial by some of what happened that day.

Michael Fanone: “I feel like I went to hell and back to protect them and the people in this room. But too many are now telling me that hell doesn’t exist or that hell actually wasn’t that bad. The indifference shown to my colleagues is disgraceful!”