Winston Pingeon became a Capitol Police Officer not long afer graduating from American University, serving this nation and never imagining he’d be defending the Capitol against violent attacks on January 6 2021 (insurrectionists are referred to on the official White House web page as “patriotic Americans” and “peaceful protestors”). This week Donald Trump created a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund “to hear and redress claims of others who suffered weaponization and lawfare.”
On January 6, Winston was assaulted while struggling to defend his gun from being removed, was pepper-sprayed, and feared for his life. In total, 174 officers were injured and a total of five died resulting from the violence that day. Winston left the force 10 months later and is now an artist; his works depicting the day have been donated to the Smithsonian and appear on his Instagram.
He shared with me some thoughts about current events.
Mary McCarthy: You were on the front lines on January 6. When you hear about a federal fund that could potentially compensate individuals connected to that day, how does that sit with you personally and professionally?
Winston Pingeon: I was incredibly disappointed to hear the news, and yet nothing surprises me at this point. I continue not to be surprised by how horrible the re-writing of history of the January 6th attack is and the injustice that remains. The President could’ve just moved on from the attack he inspired. He didn’t need to pardon violent felons who were convicted of attacking police officers, my colleagues and friends. But instead, he seeks to completely rewrite the facts of what happened, and celebrate those violent criminals by pardoning them, and now seeking to pay them. How can any reasonable American think that this is okay? The Trump administration is trying to celebrate insurrectionists as “patriots.”
MM: Critics are calling this $1.7+ billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” a potential “slush fund.” From your perspective as someone who experienced the violence firsthand, what are the ethical concerns that stand out most to you?
WP: The credit and compensation should be given to the Capitol and DC Police officers who valiantly fought to defend Congress and our democracy on that day. This fund is a very public message that criminals who are willing to be loyal to the President are completely immune from any prosecution. Many January 6th offenders have continued to commit crimes since.
No person is above the law. I believe that justice is crucial to moving on from the attack on the Capitol. But at this point, I think it’s likely impossible justice ever will occur. When our nation of law and order fundamentally is altered by the President who granted sweeping pardons to those who were convicted in a court of law, by a jury of their peers, for violently assaulting my fellow officers, at this point I don't even know how we could get true justice. This fund is corruption at the highest degree. When I was a police officer, I wasn’t even allowed to accept someone buying me a cup of coffee. And now, the President of the United States can simply allocate over $1 billion to support his convicted criminal supporters.
MM: Supporters of the fund argue it’s meant to help people who were unfairly targeted by the justice system. Do you see any legitimacy in that argument, or does it conflict with what you witnessed during the attack?
WP: No facts exist that support the argument that people who stormed the Capitol were unfairly targeted. The people who committed crimes, assaulted police and illegally trespassed all faced consequences for their actions and were convicted in a court of law, by a jury of their peers, or in a plea agreement. That is justice, and that’s how our system is supposed to work. The January 6th attack was one of the most widely—documented crimes in American history.
MM: There are concerns that people involved in the Capitol riot could be eligible for compensation under the fund’s broad criteria. What message do you think that possibility sends—to law enforcement, and to the public?
WP: The Capitol Police sacrificed so much on that day. and continue to make sacrifices in service to Congress, and to our country. They should be the ones rewarded. The only thing officers got that day were scars, physical and emotional, and now the criminals who inflicted that damage are the ones being rewarded? I don’t think the American public, especially half of the country, realize how much damage was done on January 6th and how devastating it was for the officers.
MM: We just learned that two officers have filed a federal lawsuit to block this fund, calling it unconstitutional and dangerous. Do you support that legal challenge, and what do you hope comes from it?
WP: I’m glad to see that Officer Hodges and Harry Dunn have filed a lawsuit. I commend them for their continued commitment to seeking justice. At the minimum, I hope this suit will cancel this fund. And ideally, I’d hope that it would prevent anything like this from happening in the future.
MM: Looking forward, what would accountability or justice look like to you now, more than five years after January 6th?
WP: It’s difficult to think about how negatively this could affect things ahead. If criminals are rewarded with cash for their crimes, what does that say to the public? As a police officer, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. It’s hard to not lose hope when that oath is so blatantly disregarded at the highest levels of government. I try to stay optimistic but it’s not easy. Police officers are problem solvers, but our democracy being slowly and systematically dismantled isn’t a problem I or any officer individually can solve.
Find Winston on Instagram.
