Gonell joined the
United States Capitol Police in 2006, and worked there for 16 years. During this time, he became a sergeant, and passed the test for being a lieutenant, but did not become one because of his injuries from January 6. when Trump finished speaking at Washington D.C.'s
Ellipse park and his supporters who were listening started marching east towards the Capitol. The rioters attempted to push past Gonell and other officers who were holding a line. Fighting then broke out. Gonell fought with at least 40 people for six hours. At some point, he was pulled under the crowd of people. He said he lost enough oxygen to where he thought he was going to die.
Aftermath Gonell underwent two major surgeries because of the injuries during the attack. They included having a metal plate installed on his foot. On December 12, 2022, he retired from the Capitol Police, because his injuries made him no longer able to pass the physical tests proving he was fit for the force. On November 7, 2023, Gonell's book
American Shield: The Immigrant Who Defended Democracy was released.
2024 election To support
Trump's 2024 campaign, Republican
Mike Johnson released videotapes of January 6 with footage edited to downplay the attack's violence. This included photographs of Gonell standing upright that evening, attempting to prove that Gonell had not experienced serious violence. In mid-2024, Gonell, along with Dunn and
D.C. Metropolitan Police officer
Daniel Hodges, went to various
swing states to campaign for the
Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign. They also appeared in a TV ad targeting Arizonans that highlighted various threats made by Trump. After Biden
dropped out of the race, the officers joined the
Kamala Harris campaign. On the third night of the
2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Gonell spoke to the delegates. He spoke of his experience on January 6 and declared that Trump had betrayed the country. ==Bibliography==