“It was chaos”: The Georgia Capitol Police officer describes the attack and injury in testimony January 6
Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards was the first officer to be injured by rioters on January 6, 2021.
Updated June 10, 2022 4:00 PM EDT
“I was an American who faced other Americans and often wondered how we got here.” Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards was the first officer injured by rioters on Jan. 6, 2021. Edwards, a native of Georgia and a graduate of the University of Georgia, says she feels what happened in our nation’s capital that day was a war. TRENDING STORIESTybee Island Police warn after reports of beachgoers disturbing sea turtles and nests Friend grants bond ‘All I remember is stepping behind the line and just seeing the absolute war zone that the western front had become. … Never in my wildest dreams did I think that as a police officer, as a police officer, I would find myself in the middle of a battle,” she said. In the video above you can see Edwards being manhandled by rioters. My foot touched the stairs behind me and my chin hit the banister and at that point I passed out,” she said. “When you regained consciousness despite the injuries, you returned to duty, didn’t you? Yes, ma’am,” Edwards replied. Edwards suffered traumatic brain injury from the attack and had to be assigned an office job when she returned to work. “It was chaos. I can’t even describe what I saw.”
WASHINGTON —
“I was an American who faced other Americans and wondered many times how we got here.”
Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards was the first officer to be injured by rioters on January 6, 2021.
Edwards, a native of Georgia and a graduate of the University of Georgia, says she feels what happened that day in our nation’s capital was a war.
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“I just remember stepping behind the line and just seeing the absolute war zone that the western front had become. … Never in my wildest dreams did I think that as a police officer, as a law enforcement officer, I would find myself in the middle of a battle,” she said.
In the video aboveYou can see Edwards being mauled by rioters,
“I felt the bike rack hit my head and I was pushed backwards. My foot hit the stairs behind me and my chin hit the railing and at that point I blacked out,” she said.
“Once you’ve regained consciousness despite your injuries, you’re back on duty, right?” asked Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney.
“Yes ma’am,” Edwards replied.
Edwards suffered traumatic brain injury from the attack and had to be assigned a desk job after returning to work.
“It was chaos. I can’t even describe what I saw.”
