Harry Dunn, ex-officer who defended Capitol on January 6, to run for Congress

Harry Dunn, a former police officer who defended the US Capitol on 6 January 2021, will run for US Congress in Maryland.

On Friday, a day ahead of the third anniversary of the deadly riot, Dunn said via X, formerly known as Twitter: “On January 6, I defended our democracy from insurrectionists as a Capitol police officer. After, President Biden honoured me with the Presidential Citizens Medal.

“Today, I’m running for Congress, to stop Trump’s Maga extremists and ensure it never happens again.”

“Maga” is short for Trump’s campaign slogan, Make America Great Again.

Nine deaths have been linked to the attack on the Capitol on 6 January 2021, which happened when Donald Trump told supporters to “fight like hell” to block certification of his election defeat by Joe Biden.

The attack failed. But one police officer, Brian Sicknick, died the next day. Other officers killed themselves.

Dunn – a commanding presence at 6ft 7in and 325lbs, once an offensive lineman in college football – was one of a group of officers who acquired a public profile after the riot, testifying before the House January 6 committee, appearing on television and releasing an autobiography, Standing My Ground.

He will now run for Congress in Maryland’s third district, a solidly Democratic seat north-east of Washington represented by John Sarbanes, re-elected eight times but not running this year. The primary, which Dunn now joins, will be held on 14 May.

In an announcement video, Dunn appeared amid a re-enactment of January 6, a Trump flag seen in the background as actors re-created the Capitol riot.

Dunn took aim at Republicans in Congress now ranged behind Trump as he seeks the GOP presidential nomination again.

“I swore an oath to protect our constitution, to