US police officer repeatedly calls Capitol rioters 'terrorists'

During the select committee on the 6 January Capitol incident's first hearing on 27 July, police officer Daniel Hodges repeatedly referred to the rioters as ‘terrorists’ while recounting his experience.

Hodges, one of hundreds of police officers who defended the Capitol, was seen on video being crushed in a door during the riots. As he recounted making his way through a crowd with other officers and witnessing rioters climb the scaffolding, Hodges repeatedly used the word ‘terrorists’.

Asked why he used the word ‘terrorists’, Hodges read the federal code definition of the term, pointing to language about domestic terrorism and dangerous acts aimed at trying ‘to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion’.

He also said that he was ‘confused’ to see rioters carrying the ‘thin blue line’ flag, which is a symbol of support for police.