A man who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 apologized to four police officers who defended the building that day after testifying before the House Select committee investigating the riot.
Stephen Ayres apologized to Washington Metropolitan police officer Daniel Hodges, former Metro PD officer Michael Fanone and Capitol Police officers Aquilino Gonell, and Harry Dunn.
Hodges told USA TODAY that Ayres told him he was sorry for his participation in the riot.
“I have to believe that people can change,” Hodges added.
“I’m not holding any grudges. I’m trying to live my life. Get back to my normal routine. Learn from how to cope and live with my new disabilities,” Gonell, who will retire from the Capitol Police force due to injuries sustained on Jan. 6 told USA TODAY.
Ayres told the Jan. 6 committee that he did not plan to storm the Capitol building until he heard Donald Trump’s speech at the ‘Stop The Steal’ rally.
He pleaded guilty in June to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building, according to the New York Times. He is scheduled to be sentenced in September.
Ayres told the committee that the riot “definitely changed my life, not for the good.”
