United States Capitol Police Officer Caroline Edwards is expected to be one of the witnesses to testify at Thursday’s prime-time hearing held by the House panel investigating the 6 January 2021 against the Capitol.
Edwards was the first law enforcement officer injured as rioters began charging inside the building, according to the committee.
“Even after suffering a traumatic brain injury, Officer Edwards patrolled the West Capitol Square and prevented many rioters from entering the Capitol building,” the select committee said.
She has not yet joined the United States Capitol Police First Responder Unit due to her injuries, but is expected to return to her role this year, the panel added.
Edwards was reportedly questioned by rioters: “Why are you blocking our way? during the attack, NBC News reportedciting court documents.
During the attack, the 5ft 4in, 31-year-old woman suffered a concussion and has since experienced blackouts due to the brain injury she sustained. according to the New York Times.
But despite her injuries, Edwards said she remembers the events of Jan. 6 well.
“These images, the smells, the screams – you know, the chaos. That day was a war zone,” she told MSNBC in a 2021 interview.
Edwards is from Atlanta and graduated with honors from the University of Georgia. She began her career in law enforcement in 2017 after leaving a career in public relations “to answer the call to serve”.
She and Nick Quested, a British filmmaker who recorded members of the far-right Proud Boys as they stormed the Capitol, are due to testify on Thursday.
During the hearing scheduled for 8 p.m., the committee “will present never-before-seen materials documenting January 6, receive testimony, and provide the American people with an initial summary of its findings on the multi-step coordinated effort to reverse the results of the 2020 presidential election. and prevent the transfer of power.
