Jan. 6 police officer Harry Dunn visits Wisconsin to criticize pardons, Supreme Court candidate

Portrait of Hope Karnopp Hope Karnopp
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol Police officer, returned to Milwaukee Tuesday to condemn President Donald Trump's pardons of about 1,500 people — including 11 Wisconsinites — charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Dunn's trip had another purpose: Calling attention to Wisconsin’s state Supreme Court race and criticizing the conservative candidates' comments about Jan. 6. The election, which will again determine the court's ideological balance, is just over two months away.

Harry Dunn, a former U.S. Capitol police officer, center seated, receives a standing ovation on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, prior to speaking at the League of Progressive Seniors event at 633 S. Hawley Road in Milwaukee, where he talked about the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and those involved who received pardons from President Donald Trump. Also attending the events were members from SIEU Wisconsin, Souls to the Polls, Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Working Families Party and All Voting is Local Action. Dunn also gave remarks on the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race.

"Anytime there's an election in Wisconsin, it's national news," Dunn said to a room at Milwaukee Area Labor Council, filled with members of labor and voting rights groups. "Here, y'all get the opportunity to elect y'all's Supreme Court justices, not just have them appointed."

Dunn has been one of the most outspoken officers who was at the Capitol on Jan. 6, including testifying about being called racial slurs by people storming the Capitol. He resigned as a Capitol officer in December 2023 after serving more than 15 years. Dunn ran for a U.S. House seat in Maryland last year but finished second in a crowded Democratic primary.

Before leaving office, President Joe Biden preemptively pardoned officers from the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and U.S. Capitol Police, including Dunn, who testified before the Jan. 6 select committee. The pardons are intended to shield some of Trump's foes from future prosecution.

"I wish this pardon weren’t necessary, but unfortunately, the political climate we are in now has made the need for one somewhat of a reality," Dunn said in a statement. "Trump’s supporters have pledged to go after me and my fellow officers."

Schimel says violent offenders should have been prosecuted

While Dunn didn't mention conservative Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel by name — or his liberal opponent, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford — he did take aim at comments Schimel said previously about Jan. 6.

"Imagine somebody saying, an individual who pled guilty, who was found guilty by a jury of their peers, imagine electing somebody saying they didn't get a fair shot. What about the officers? Did we get a fair shot?" Dunn said. "I hope (Schimel) sees this. You should be ashamed of yourself."

Dunn was referencing comments Schimel, a former Republican attorney general and current Waukesha County judge, made on conservative radio host Vicki McKenna's podcast earlier this month. He noted Jan. 6 defendants were all prosecuted in the "overwhelmingly liberal" Washington, D.C. district.

"This (is) part of the manipulation is to go to districts like that ... They would never take their prosecution in a district where you had a fair shot as a defendant," Schimel said.

On a call with reporters Monday to announce endorsements from Wisconsin's Republican members of Congress, Schimel said he had "no idea" what comments Dunn planned to criticize. He didn't appear familiar with Dunn's plans to visit Wisconsin Tuesday, but said he's "grateful for that police officer's service."

"I've said that anyone who engaged in violence on Jan. 6 — assaulted a police officer, resisted arrest — those people should have been prosecuted. That's against the law," Schimel said. "They should be prosecuted and held accountable, and judges should impose sentences that are just under the circumstances."

But Schimel said he does not "object to" presidents using their power to issue pardons. "President Biden has issued pardons, President Trump has now issued pardons as he's come in, and presidents over history have done that," he said.

Wisconsin Supreme Court race expected to see increased national attention

Dunn speaking out about the April 1 state Supreme Court election shows the high profile of the race, similar to the 2023 election for the court that happened in a non-federal election year.

Elon Musk recently called attention to the race on X, the social media platform he owns, urging Wisconsinites to "vote Republican." Former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced Monday he was endorsing Crawford and would travel to Wisconsin next week to campaign for her.

Wisconsin's Supreme Court races are technically nonpartisan but attract heavy spending from partisan groups and donors.

More:Democratic Party, Republican heavy hitters pour cash into Wisconsin Supreme Court race

In a statement, Crawford campaign spokesman Derrick Honeyman said Crawford "believes anyone found guilty of violently assaulting law enforcement and first responders should be held accountable, including those who assaulted police in our nation’s Capitol on January 6th."

"It’s disappointing, but not surprising, that Brad Schimel supports letting violent criminals go free, given his extreme political agenda and record of failure on public safety,” he said.

Dunn has campaigned in Wisconsin before. Last summer, he came to Milwaukee in support of Biden, before he ended his reelection bid. He continued campaigning as a surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris in other battleground states.

Dunn criticizes Jan. 6 pardons, including 11 from Wisconsin

Dunn said the Supreme Court election presents another "opportunity" for voters in Wisconsin who were upset about the presidential election results. He encouraged attendees to speak to their family and friends who "sat this one out" in November.

"People were upset about the pardons and surprised, shocked and appalled ... He said he was going to do it," Dunn said. "My anger, as candidly as possible, is with the people that are surprised right now. Because if you're surprised, you were not paying attention. How dare you form an opinion on Nov. 6, when it was too late."

Those pardoned in Wisconsin, including one man from Milwaukee, were found guilty in federal court of felonies and misdemeanors. Riley Kasper of Pulaski pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, and posted on Facebook that he pepper-sprayed three officers.

Some congressional Republicans from Wisconsin have disagreed with Trump's sweeping pardons, with most wanting those who committed violent acts to serve some time.

U.S. Rep. Van Orden, who has faced criticism for his presence outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, told the Journal Sentinel last week that he “fully” supports pardoning people who “non-violently” entered the Capitol or were on the Capitol grounds during the insurrection. But he disagreed with pardoning people who attacked police.

“When I say I back the blue, I back the blue. Always have and always will,” he said. “They protect us while we sleep, and they should be respected. Gotta be very clear here: The folks that assaulted police officers sentences should have been commuted years ago to match an equivalent crime from anywhere around the country.”

(This story has been updated to add a photo or video.)