A police officer who was captured on camera being swarmed by a mob of pro-Trump protestors during the Capitol riots on January 6 has said he'd do it "as many times as it takes".
After being circulated on social media, footage of the Capitol breach shocked the world, as thousands of pro-Trump rioters stormed the building and were recording assaulting police officers.
Now, speaking to NBC News, a number of the D.C. officers who helped combat the siege have spoken out about risking their lives to protect others on that deadly day.
One officer whose face quickly went viral on social media was officer Daniel Hodges, who was recorded being swarmed and crushed into a door.
"They were calling us traitors, shouting at us, telling us to remember our oath, and eventually, they attacked us," Hodges said.
"At that moment in the hallway where I was pinned, I was there to do my best to keep them out, obviously, and the way I was doing that was with my body," he said. "Unfortunately, at that moment, my arms were pinned. I was unable to defend myself."
As well as having his mask ripped off, Hodges also told NBC how one man was attempted to take his baton and "beat him in the head with it".
And speaking out about the now-viral footage, he added: "I’m glad that video’s going around, because it shows people that we absolutely fought tooth and nail to keep the Capitol safe, to keep our congressmen safe and keep them out," he said.
"If it wasn’t my job, I would’ve done that for free," he said. "It was absolutely my pleasure to crush a white nationalist insurrection... I’d do it as many times as it takes."
Additionally, D.C. Police officer Mike Fanone has also revealed that he suffered a mild heart attack during the riots.
Fanone also told NBC: "Guys were trying to grab my gun and they were chanting like, 'kill him with his own gun.’"
Following the 'Save America March' on January 6, supporters of President Donald Trump breached the Capitol in an effort to disrupt the joint session of Congress in place to declare Joe Biden as the next president of the US.
Five people died as a result of the insurrection, including Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick, who died "due to injuries sustained while on-duty", CNN reports.
As a result of the riots, the House of Representatives later impeached Donald Trump for a second time, under the charge of "incitement of insurrection."