Matt Gaetz wants to see surveillance footage of death of Capitol Officer Brian Sicknick

Congressman Matt Gaetz asked for answers Monday on the lack of video evidence regarding the death of Capitol Officer Brian Sicknick in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

The Florida Republican appeared on Fox News’ Hannity Monday night alongside Jason Chaffetz, Fox News contributor, former Utah congressman. Host Sean Hannity first asked Chaffetz about an opinion piece he wrote for Fox News earlier Monday, which posed 13 security-related questions to Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi . One of Chaffetz’s questions was whether there were “enough” security cameras placed in public areas around the Capitol building.

Gaetz told Hannity he had another question to add to Chaffetz’s list

“I want to know precisely what caused the death of Officer Brian Sicknick,” Gaetz said. “I mean, the Capitol complex has more surveillance than a casino, and you’re telling me we don’t have any video evidence of what exactly happened to cause this murder?” I want to know.

Sicknick and four civilians died in the violence that erupted at the Capitol on January 6. Following a protest near the White House at which former President Donald Trump spoke, protesters marched to Capitol Hill and gathered outside. Numerous protesters pushed their way past Capitol Police and inside the building, forcing members of both Houses of Congress to close. At the time, members of Congress were meeting on Capitol Hill to certify the results of the 2020 election. They did so later after authorities cleared the rooms of rioters.

Sicknick is one of five people who died in the day’s violence. Capitol Police announced his death in a press release on January 7. According to the statement, Sicknick was injured “while physically engaging with protesters”. He returned to his division office before being taken to hospital, where he died the day after his injuries, the statement said.

Evidence of what happened during the riot quickly spread online, helped in part by photos and videos shared on social media by those present. Federal investigators have appealed to Americans to help them identify participants based on visual evidence of their participation.

In Sicknick’s case, it is not yet publicly known how exactly the officer died or who may have been responsible for his death. While The New York Times initially reported that Sicknick may have died from a blunt head trauma, the newspaper subsequently released an update reporting that details surrounding Sicknick’s death were still in question.

Newsweek has contacted Pelosi’s office for comment and will update this article with any response.