Officers File Lawsuit to Honor Capitol Heroes with Plaque Installation

Two police officers, who played key roles in defending the Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack, have initiated a federal civil lawsuit. They seek a court order to compel the installation of a plaque that pays tribute to the police heroes who protected lawmakers and staff from the rioters. This action stems from a law enacted by President Biden in 2022, mandating the plaque's installation by March 2023. Although the plaque has been ready and stored since at least last year, House Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to confirm plans for its display in the Capitol.

The situation surrounding the plaque has stirred anger among victims and highlighted the political divisions within Congress. Republican leaders, who oversee the Capitol's administration, have not complied with requests from certain officers and Democratic colleagues to honor the plaque. Officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges argue in their lawsuit that former President Trump has propagated conspiracy theories regarding the January 6 events, which many of his Republican supporters in Congress have echoed.

According to the lawsuit, after Congress passed the law concerning the plaque, perspectives on January 6 began to shift. Trump referred to the day as a "day of love," and associated rhetoric led to calls for accountability being reversed, with public scrutiny falling on law enforcement instead. The lawsuit asserts that the failure to install the plaque is a violation of the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution and claims that the Architect of the Capitol has not fulfilled the responsibilities outlined in the 2022 law.

Brendan Ballou, the attorney representing the officers, expressed skepticism about congressional leadership's willingness to install the plaque without judicial intervention. He pointed out that although Congress has memorialized other officers' sacrifices, it has failed to honor those who protected the Capitol on January 6. The lawsuit draws attention to actions taken by Congress to commemorate Trump, suggesting a troubling inconsistency in how different events are honored.

Filed in the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, where numerous cases related to the Capitol riots are processed, the lawsuit currently awaits assignment of a judge. Meanwhile, the plaque remains in storage on the Capitol grounds, prompting wider discussions about the political landscape surrounding Trump's pardons of Capitol riot defendants and the lack of commemoration from Republican members of the House.

Democratic representatives have vocally criticized the inaction surrounding the plaque, noting it reflects a refusal to support law enforcement appropriately while simultaneously failing to acknowledge the events of January 6. A spokesperson for Speaker Johnson has not responded to inquiries about the situation, and he has offered no timeline for when the plaque might finally be hung.