Reluctant Witness: Jan. 6 Officer Daniel Hodges Becomes Democrats' Go‑To Voice in Congress

Daniel Hodges describes himself as an introvert — soft-spoken and uncomfortable with attention. By day he is a Metropolitan Police Department officer in Washington, D.C.; in his off hours this year he has emerged as a highly visible and deliberate advocate on Capitol Hill.

Standing Against Revisionism

Hodges told CBS News he sees his role as a firewall against efforts to whitewash the history of the Jan. 6, 2021, siege on the U.S. Capitol. "The only thing that will stop me is if people stop lying about Jan. 6 and just acknowledge what the day was and what really transpired," he said.

He was one of more than 140 officers injured while trying to repel attackers on that day. With the Republican Party holding the White House and both chambers of Congress and some politicians minimizing the events of Jan. 6, victims have fewer platforms to describe the attack's impact. Against that backdrop, Democrats have repeatedly called Hodges to testify as a minority-party witness in congressional hearings focused on officer safety and political violence.

Key Testimonies and Reactions

In October, a Senate subcommittee hearing titled "Politically Violent Attacks: A Threat to Our Constitutional Order" included Hodges as the lone witness for Democrats. He described the physical toll of defending the Capitol: "I was beaten, bloodied, and crushed, with my eye gouged and skull smashed with my own baton," he testified. Sen. Peter Welch (D‑Vt.), the panel's ranking Democrat, praised Hodges' composure and said his testimony carried moral weight precisely because Hodges controlled his emotions to focus on facts.

At a Dec. 3 House Homeland Security Committee hearing, "When Badges Become Targets: How Anti‑Law Enforcement Rhetoric Fuels Violence Against Officers," Hodges criticized President Trump's mass pardons of more than 1,500 Capitol riot defendants, arguing the clemencies send a signal that could embolden further violence against police. Hodges opened the hearing by rejecting what he characterized as a pretense of confusion over rising threats against officers.

Partisan Responses And Personal Costs

Democrats say Hodges' testimony highlights a contradiction among some Trump supporters who advocate tougher policies for police while downplaying the Jan. 6 attacks on law enforcement. Hodges and Democratic lawmakers have reiterated that Republican members of panels where he testified largely declined to question him or acknowledge his testimony after hearings; spokespeople for Republican committee chairs did not respond to requests for comment.

Hodges has also faced personal consequences for speaking out. He told CBS News he has received threats and other menacing communications. Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who has supported Hodges at hearings, said, "Danny has been unwavering and cleared every obstacle he's faced, while continuing to serve." Dunn and Hodges both say their goal is accountability and justice for officers harmed on Jan. 6.

Context And Outlook

Hodges previously testified publicly in 2021 before the House Jan. 6 select committee. Critics have accused the administration of trying to downplay or rewrite the events of Jan. 6 after President Trump's 2024 victory and his early‑term pardons. When announcing the clemencies, the White House said the decision "ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation."

Hodges acknowledges he will not persuade everyone. Asked if he expected deniers to change their minds, he paused and said, "There are still people out there who think the moon landing was fake and that the Holocaust wasn't real. So you are not going to get 100%." He continues to testify and speak publicly to preserve the record of what officers experienced on Jan. 6.