Former Capitol Police Officer Who Defended Capitol Running for Congress

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn, who heroically defended the building against insurrectionist rioters on Jan. 6, 2021, and whose harrowing account of that day riveted the House select committee investigating the siege, is running for Congress.

Dunn announced his intention to run for Congress in Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District one day ahead of the third anniversary of the riot.

In a post on the X social media platform, Dunn wrote simply, “On January 6th, I defended our democracy from insurrectionists as a Capitol Police Officer. After, President Biden honored me with the Presidential Citizens Medal.

“Today, I’m running for Congress to stop Trump’s MAGA extremists & ensure it never happens again,” he posted.

He also changed the wording of his X profile to read “Maryland Native. Girl Dad. Lifelong Democrat. Hip-Hop Lover. Defended our Democracy as a Capitol Police Officer on Jan. 6th. Running for Congress in MD-03.”

Dunn, the son of a United States Air Force Veteran and a former insurance claims analyst, joined the Capitol Police force in 2008. He was assigned a year later to its first responder unit, which is responsible for maintaining perimeter security around the exterior of the U.S. Capitol, protecting members of Congress, congressional staff, employees and visitors to Capitol Hill.

From 2017 to 2023, he served as a police training officer responsible for guiding and training new officers once they have completed the academy.

But it was Jan. 6, and his subsequent testimony before the bipartisan House select committee investigating the events that unfolded that day, that made him something of a household name.

During that testimony, Dunn recalled that in his exchanges with the insurrectionists before the day went horribly wrong, they repeatedly claimed Biden had somehow stolen the election.

Finally, Dunn said, he told the rioters he voted for Biden and expected his vote to be counted.

With that, several members of the mob began shouting racial epithets at him.

“One woman in a pink ‘MAGA’ [Make America Great Again] shirt yelled, ‘You hear that, guys, this n – voted for Joe Biden!’” said Dunn, who grew increasingly emotional during his testimony.

“Then the crowd, perhaps around 20 people, joined in, screaming “Boo! F– n –!” he said, adding that the experience was shocking — no one had ever called him the n-word while he was in uniform.

That night, Dunn remembered, he sat in the Capitol Rotunda and cried.

Over the course of his career, Dunn received several awards and commendations for his exemplary service in the U.S. Capitol Police, including the Capitol Police Service Medal, the Capitol Police Achievement Medal, a Capitol Police Commendation and a Congressional Gold Medal.

Born and raised In Maryland’s Prince George’s County, Dunn has a brother and four sisters. He graduated from James Madison University in 2005 with a bachelor of science degree in Health Science with a concentration in Public Health Education.

While attending college, Dunn was also a starter on the offensive line at JMU for four years and helped lead the football team to their first ever national championship.

He is a father of one daughter, Daphne.

Dunn currently lives outside the 3rd Congressional District but said he will move to it if he is elected in November. He currently lives in Montgomery County, Maryland.

With his announcement on Thursday, Dunn is joining a crowded field of hopeful Democrats. They include Dels. Mark Chang, Vanessa Atterbeary, Terri Hill and Mike Rogers and state Sens. Sarah Elfreth and Clarence Lam.

Dan can be reached at [email protected] and at https://twitter.com/DanMcCue