Mother of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick Believes He Died From Stroke, but She Still Can’t Get Answers
“He wasn’t hit on the head no. We think he had a stroke, but we don’t know anything for sure. We’d love to know what happened,” Officer Sicknick’s mother Gladys told the Daily Mail.
The tragic death of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick in the aftermath of the Capitol riots triggered frenzied reporting from mainstream media outlets like the New York Times, which reported on January 8th that Sicknick died “from injuries in pro-Trump rampage.”
Though the Times updated its report, it initially reported that “At some point in the chaos … [Sicknick] was struck with a fire extinguisher, according to two law enforcement officials.”
Negligent Reporting
Another piece the paper published that day was exclusively about Sicknick. The headline read, “He Dreamed of Being a Police Officer, Then Was Killed by a Pro-Trump Mob.”
The Times’ pieces cited “the authorities” in their reporting, noting that “the Capitol Police said only that he had ‘passed away due to injuries sustained while on duty.'”
Indeed, the Capitol Police’s press release issued the day after the riots, stated Sicknick had died after being injured during the riots. The USCP’s statement that day did not provide any specifics as to the nature of the injuries.
In a piece they filed the same day, the Associated Press claimed Sicknick “died Thursday night from injuries suffered during the riot.” A few paragraphs down in the article, the AP reported that Sicknick “was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher during a struggle,” according to two unnamed law enforcement officials.
Here are some of the various segments some cable news networks like CNN and MSNBC did on Sicknick’s death, all claiming in so many words that rioters beat him to death:
Dangerous disinformation spread on cable news: pic.twitter.com/x1BkltyIs7
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 23, 2021
The media narrative about how Sicknick had died after allegedly being struck by a fire extinguisher was so prevalent that it led Democrats to suggest in so many words that President Trump was an accomplice to murder. Sicknick’s death was even cited in the House’s impeachment article against Trump:
Thus incited by President Trump, members of the crowd he had addressed, in an attempt to, among other objectives, interfere with the Joint Session’s solemn constitutional duty to certify the results of the 2020 Presidential election, unlawfully breached and vandalized the Capitol, injured and killed law enforcement personnel….
In a pre-trial memorandum, House Democrats wrote, “the insurrectionists killed a Capitol Police officer by striking him in the head with a fire extinguisher.”
Family Doesn’t Have Answers
But contra to the numerous early reports about how Sicknick supposedly died after being struck with a fire extinguisher, there was information from family members early on that suggested that’s not what happened. On January 8th, ProPublica reported that his brother Ken said Officer Sicknick texted him the night of the riots about how he had been pepper-sprayed:
“He texted me last night and said, ‘I got pepper-sprayed twice,’ and he was in good shape,” said Ken Sicknick, his brother, as the family drove toward Washington. “Apparently he collapsed in the Capitol and they resuscitated him using CPR.”
But the day after that text exchange, the family got word that Brian Sicknick had a blood clot and had had a stroke; a ventilator was keeping him alive.
He died that Thursday night around 9:30 pm, according to the USCP.
It’s been seven weeks since the Capitol riots and Sicknick’s death, and as of this writing, his family still does not have any answers. Officer Sicknick’s mother Gladys spoke with the Daily Mail and told them what she believes happened:
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com Gladys Sicknick, 74, was unequivocal in her assertion that Officer Brian Sicknick was not struck on the head and that as far as the family knows her son had a fatal stroke.
She said, ‘He wasn’t hit on the head no. We think he had a stroke, but we don’t know anything for sure.
‘We’d love to know what happened.’
Because, while politicians have grandstanded and rushed to judgment no one has yet given the family the answers they need.
The Daily Mail also provided a detailed timeline on how media reports evolved on the story as time went on with some, like the New York Times, adding notes at the beginning of their original stories that some information was now in dispute.
Politifact is even now acknowledging that it’s unclear how Sicknick died, citing a “lack of publicly available information” beyond various media reports that have since been updated to note there is conflicting information but nothing from official sources. “Official sources have remained quiet, with no suspects or arrests announced as of this writing,” they wrote Monday.
With all of this in mind, will we get walk-backs, updates, or retractions from media figures like MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and CNN’s Anderson Cooper, who have continued to run with the fire extinguisher story?
Have any of the cable hosts who repeatedly dramatized a false story about how Sicknick died — causing that story to ricochet across social media to millions of people — retracted what they said, including @maddow & @andersoncooper?https://t.co/uFvuQm4VgZ pic.twitter.com/y9h0iHOZGq
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 23, 2021
Don’t count on it.
While Sicknick’s death is no doubt a tragedy, the media’s/left’s rush to assign blame for his death before knowing the facts is a tragedy in its own way – because it’s their early reporting that enabled Democrats and so-called “journalists” to shamelessly politicize his death and further traumatize his family at a time when all they wanted was the truth about what happened.
Yet it’s been seven weeks, and they still don’t have that information. None of us do. That in and of itself is a scandal. It’s one the media should focus on instead of continuing to make dubious claims that have yet to be substantiated.
— Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via Twitter. —
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Comments
The DC Stasi won’t tell family members how loved ones died in order to keep a bullshit narrative alive and those that claim to be suuuuuper concerned about misinformation, e.g. Dims, spread it daily.
I am sorry for Brian Sicknick and his family. It is bad enough that he died, so much worse for his family that Dems have turned his death into propaganda to support a litany of their crimes.
In this particular instance I’m inclined to agree
“In this particular instance”
Hey mark troll it’s the ONLY instance of rioters (allegedly) killing someone which is why your side has been deliberately lying about it for weeks now. You aren’t fooling anyone with your phony attempt to appear “even-handed”, you malicious leftist trolls do that all the time.
He didn’t say there was more he said in this instance he agrees with our side. You say you want rational opponents to engage you who don’t consider us irredeemable deplorables; well in Mark you got it so knock off the hostility.
The family pleaded his death not be used for political purposes. I can find no evidence an autopsy was performed. This is indicative that criminality was not suspected in the death. Given his involvement in the civil disturbance that same day, it is surprising, actually, that one does not seem to have been performed, leading me to believe the cause of death and lack of criminality as a primary or contributing cause was pretty conclusive. Of course I do not know what I do not know.
I would prefer the wishes of the family are respected. My preferences are of small importance and are very frequently disregarded, however.
RIP
There is only one explanation, the officer was murdered by the same people that murdered Ashli Babbitt.
Otherwise no need for this coverup.
For clarity I agree with BSR not you
For clarity, you’re a marxist. No sane person agree’s with you on anything.
Oh Barry, once again you prove to be wrong. Do you actually know any of my policy positions or indeed what a Marxist believes?
You’re a marxist, 100%. A paid commentor, paid by the marxists you work for, likely sub minimum wage.
Yo fool no one, no matter which name you comment under. We recognize you just like we recognize a trash dump for what it is.
Barry you have dodged the question. I can only opine that you don’t know the answer. Feel free to correct me.
Agreed it is strange
You’re not “strange” at all mark troll. You are just like dozens of other leftist trolls I’ve seen on conservative web sites.
FOAF
That comment makes no sense
They needed a Horst Wessel, Sicknik was it. When will we hear the song?
Seth Rich was unavailable for comment.
Must…maintain…the …narrative…
This charade will be maintained until it is no longer useful. Had this been anyone else, in any other environment – names, dates, causes, life stories, and etc. The same goes for double on the shooter of Ashli Babbitt.
The longer both detail remain hidden, the more damning you know it is.
They are trying their best to let the shooter skate.
One more John Doe Number Two.
WORSE – REPUBLICANS FELL FOR IT
Despite all the times the Agenda-Media have shown their animus to conservatives and to Trump in particular, the Congrsssional Republicans fell for this DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN (let’s call the propaganda what it is). The Sicknick narrative was central to the “insurrection” label. Somebody must have been murdered for the smmear to gain attention and to stick.
Were any republicans investigating it – or pushing back on it? No. Even though even CNN was admitting problems with the narrative by Feb 2, a week before the Senate trial started on Feb 9. (see article https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/politics/brian-sicknick-charges/index.html)
The Dems kept a tight reign on the info surrounding Sicknick which can ONLY be explained by their desire to keep the narrative going as long as possible. Let’s ask PELOSI – why has she kept his family and the Public in the DARK for over a month?
At the memorial service on Feb 3, Mitch McConnell said Sicknick “lies in honor under the dome of the institution he swore to defend and died defending.” This was a day AFTER CNN’s report which admitted problems wit the narrative (referred to above”. McConnell perpetuated the “insurrection” hoax. Other republicans did the same, prior to and during the trial.
In fact House managers made Sicknick’s death a key element in their case against Trump and, really, against the 75 million who voted for him. No Senators push back against it during the trial.
You expect Dems to push a political narrative – but where is the rational opposition that is supposed to call “bullshit”? Where are the “fact checkers” now?
The Sicknick murder narrative and it’s larger “insurrection” narrative are another hoax. Just as bad as the Russia hoax – and, in some ways, worse.
NOW we know why there was such a rush to impeach and try Trump. The Dems needed to do it before the TRUTH finally came out. Like all effective propaganda – they needed to brainwash the American people by repeatedly screaming about the Sicknick killed defending the Republic against an insurrection. A martyr for democracy. Propaganda works best when their is a martyr who because it adds to the emptional power of the message.
The sad part, and most revealing part, is how ALL the Republicans as well as FOX and other conservative leaning media, bought into and perpetuated the “insurrection” hoax. Despite there being no firearms in the capitol riot and the only one murdered was Babbitt, a protestor.
If anything, Babbitt is the true martyr. She and others were patriotically standing-up for free and fair elections. Interestingly, the Dems and their Agenda-Media partners, scream loudly tat their is no election fraud – but they refuse to authorize an independent investigation of the 2020 election. If they are so very sure it was fair – why oppose an independent review ? Hmm, based on the Russia hoax and the Insurrection hoax, I think people can see why the people don’t trust the Dems statements that the election was free and fair.
If Republicans Congressional folks continue to allow themselves to be manipulated by Dems – what chance do we the people have of real representation?
We’re dealing with Pelosi. All we’re going to get are lies.
I stick with my prediction: Pelosi will elbow the ‘Ho out of the way within 2021 (biden will have been long gone) and become president.
The elbowing will probably be Hillary’s job.
Seth Rich, Ron Brown, Vince Foster, et al have company. This time there are a LOT of healthcare witnesses that know what happened. However, living/working in DC can be dangerous to one’s life if they know the truth. With cremation… who knows what really happened… when there are no witnesses?
The family doesn’t have a copy of the death certifcate yet?
Wasn’t he cremated?
Where is their lawyer?
Was he allergic to the sprays? Late reaction? Looks kind of young for stroke but men in their 40’s it does happen. My mother had one at 29
Yes, and who authorized the cremation? If you (family members) don’t have answers, why would you have it done so quickly?
Something doesn’t add up.
A mother is not being told what killed her son and how he died. Because the truth would kill a lie about his death and a political narrative built on it. A lie being used to smear tens of millions of Americans as ‘domestic terrorists’ and mobilize the power of an American police state against them.
That’s Stalin/Mao level evil. That’s who the people who are trying to create a totalitarian one party America are.
Answers would not serve the Party, Comrade.
This is more troubling that they are using it for political use
I wonder if the Mother has contacted his physicians or the hospital, or made any request for his records. Some kind soul should assist her with that.
Given the fact that Capitol Hill is as airtight as soccer net (one Soviet spy bragged he could get any sensitive information he wanted just by going to some anti-war Democrat’s office and simply asking for it) I can 100% guarantee that every single Congresscritter that publicly cried crocodile tears over Sicknick’s death knew that he wasn’t murdered – and they knew it while they were weeping.
Every. Single. One.
Our rulers – both Communist and Republican – are truly evil people.
Evil, maybe. Wicked, probably. Bad choices.
One question I would like answered is who gave the authority to cremate Brian Sicknick? It doesn’t sound like his parents did nor his brother so someone else had to do that. Did they register him as a John Doe which probably gave the state the authority to cremate him?
Chris, that’s an excellent observation and question.
Investigate PELOSI.
I for one am pretty sick and tired of the whole “insurrection” narrative. An insurrection requires an intent to overthrow the constituted government and seize its powers for your own. There was no insurrection, just as there was no “beaten to death by pro-Trump rioters.”
I’m not even sure what happened that day qualifies as a “riot” either. There was unrest, certainly. But I didn’t see any burning buildings or cars. The only windows being broken looked like they were adjacent to unlocked doors and were only being broken for photo ops. Not to mention the protesters walking through the Rotunda and staying between the velvet ropes. That’s some awfully well-behaved rioters, eh?
Where are the calls to deplatform people who are spreading disinformation by calling it insurrection and riots? Are the usual suspects going to pressure cable providers to stop carrying XiNN and MSDNC for spreading the same disinformation?
The Sicknick family certainly deserves answers to their questions but so does the rest of America. Answers, not the B.S. pap we usually get spoon fed by the Washington establishment.
Hey, Mark311, still think Fox News is “notorious for lying through its teeth” because you identified one story it ran without sufficient vetting and had to walk back? (A story that for all we know might even have been true, though there’s no reason to suppose so.)
I forget exactly what I wrote previously but for clarity I don’t think the standard of journalism is particularly high all round. I just happen to think Fox news is the worst example of it in the mainstream.
Some examples
“Sean Hannity argued on his March 9 program that Democrats and the news media were trying to use COVID-19 to “bludgeon Trump”.[167][168] On March 5, Trump made an appearance on the program by phone, where he claimed that a projected mortality rate of 3.4% announced earlier that day by the World Health Organization was a “false number” and predicted that it would actually be under 1%.[169][170] On his March 10 episode (one day before the WHO declared a pandemic), Hannity argued that the seasonal flu was still making a larger “impact” than COVID-19 (with 34 million cases against roughly 1,200 at the time), only the elderly and immunocompromised were at the greatest risk, and argued that there wasn’t an equivalent “widespread hysteria” over routine violent crimes in Chicago.[171]”
“Fox News has faced criticism for its coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, due to pundits and guests having initially dismissed the severity of COVID-19 in the United States (following the lead of the Trump administration at the time), accused critics of exaggerating its impact to attack President Trump, and perpetuating misinformation about how to mitigate or treat the virus”
“In June 2020, Fox News’ website published digitally altered photographs of Seattle’s Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone to include a man armed with an assault rifle from earlier Seattle protests; also added to the photographs were smashed windows from other parts of Seattle. In a separate incident, the Fox News website ran articles about protests in Seattle, with accompanying photos of a burning city actually being from Saint Paul, Minnesota, the previous month.[96] Although the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone was peacefully occupied, “Fox’s coverage contributed to the appearance of armed unrest”, stated The Washington Post. The manipulated and wrongly used images were removed, with Fox News stating that it “regrets these errors.”[97]”
In September 2010, Hannity was criticized notably by Stewart and CNN media critic Howard Kurtz for selectively editing a video of an Obama speech on his program. Before playing the clip, Hannity remarked that there was a “rare moment of honesty” in Obama’s speech, playing a video of Obama saying:
Taxes are scheduled to go up substantially next year, for everybody.
“It quickly cuts back to Hannity, with Hannity saying, “I know the anointed one will make sure that happens.”[120] But upon further inspection, what President Obama fully said was:
Under the tax plan passed by the last administration, taxes are scheduled to go up substantially next year, for everybody”
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/list/?category=&ruling=false&speaker=sean-hannity
https://www.mediamatters.org/fox-news/fox-news-lie
https://www.theguardian.com/media/2019/oct/25/fox-news-watching-what-i-learned
Sorry not a fan. There are much better conservative sites. I’m starting to get into Ben Shapiro again, even considering getting over my stingy git status and paying for a subscription. I’m intrigued by the Debunked series Shapiro is starting.
Mark – I did not read the entirety of your post, but everything you cite in the first paragraph under “Some examples” were true. So I stopped reading at that point.
Robbin, mark troll is a lying leftist troll but I repeat myself. I think you already knew that, as did most of us here.
Thank you BSR,
I find the state of journalism in general to be disappointing particularly in the states. When mainstream journalism cant provide a degree of neutrality and objectivity it creates a real problem. Clearly I have some bias and tend to think the right wing media is worse than the left but its abundantly clear there is a general problem. What the solution is IDK.
It is interesting the The Daily Mail actually talked to Sicknick’s mother. I have not heard of any US “news” corporation doing that, yet talking with family members of the deceased would seem to be a top priority of supposed journalists.
The far Left Mail is “more Commie than thou”, but unlike US lefty rags the British press doesn’t like to pass up an opportunity to show the middle finger to the backwards colonialists – and that includes American lefties, whom the British media view as weaklings and bunglers. No matter how lefty they are, the British press will gleefully venture where our Joseph Goebbels media fears to tread and publish facts embarrassing to the Holy and Sacred Official Narrative if they think it makes Americans look stupid.
Thus the Mail will gladly publish the interview with Sicknick’s mother and reveal facts that threaten to destroy the beloved American Reichstag fire lie the Communists and Franz von Papen Republicans have lovingly fashioned.
Eventually the Capitol Police will release the results of an investigation they claim will prove Sicknick died at the hands of the dastardly Trumpanzees. My guess is that it will go like this: pepper spray did…. something mumble mumble armed insurrection mumble something believe the science *cough* white supremacists *cough* expert consensus *cough* something mumble deplatform hate. It will be pure balderdash that will won’t fool anyone with an IQ over room temperature, but no one said that the genocidal totalitarians who now run the country have to be coherent.
The Daily Mail is a right wing paper, its probably considered the most right wing paper in the mainstream here in the UK.
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2017/03/07/how-left-or-right-wing-are-uks-newspapers
No facts, just “bla bla is right wing” in the face of the biggest lie perpetrated by the media since “Russian collusion”. You aren’t fooling *anyone* mark troll with your phony dishonest attempts to appear “even-handed” – “I’m thinking of reading Ben Shapiro” lol
I think a poll of people who are British giving their perception of their paper is a reasonable inference of a papers political leanings. As opposed to blandly saying ‘its on the left’.
Theory A
Or, maybe
Theory B
The Democrats wanted to suggest that President Trump was an accomplice to murder. Just like so many others—including the armed insurrection (Nancy Pelosi) and the Capitol bombing (Merrick Garland) narratives—the fire extinguisher murder story was put out by some Democrat operative in Congress, the FBI, or the IC. As happened with the Steele dossier. When the media ran with the story the laundered disinformation was then used by its originators in another dishonest anti-Trump campaign.
Please note, at this point both A and B are theories. There needs to be an investigation to find out whether one of these is close to what happened or if there is a better explanation.
The information blackout on the riot is disturbing. No autopsy on Sicknick. No information on who shot Ashli Babbitt and why. There should have been many witnesses to that. Do we even know exactly where she was shot?
There *was* an autopsy on Officer Sicknick, because important bits of it leaked out, like the fact it revealed no blunt trauma or injuries. You have to consider the ‘narrative’ and the goals of the Capitol police at that point.
-First, there were some rumors flying around that he had been hit over the head with a fire extinguisher. That means they would be investigating a murder (attack that resulted in death), so an autopsy would be required for the eventual trial.
-The chain of events for the prosecution of ‘Insurrectionist A’ would have been well underway while all the press and Congress were emoting about the terrible murder. Evidence such as the autopsy were being collected, and hours of video were being examined. Other officers were interviewed, his steps were being retraced, and…
-Now the Narrative begins to fall apart. The autopsy reveals no trauma. Reviewing the video shows no physical attacks. Backtracking his steps show that he returned to his office in apparently good health, texted his relatives, and (gap in revealed information) apparently collapsed in his office, was whisked to the hospital, and died of a stroke.
-Patching together the Narrative fails. Information about the autopsy leaks, as well as the inability to find video of an attack. The Media becomes strangely deaf and blind, leaving up their previous stories with now-known lies and not writing new stories. Quiet behind the scenes patching is done to some stories.
This is the Media’s playbook: Lie to millions, apologize to dozens, claim neutrality.
PROPAGANDA WINS
The media knows what they are doing.
As the left says “Silence is Violence”. The fact that they do not update their stories – keeping the narrative going – or that they quietly update stories to limit knowledge – is all you need to know.
As WaPo states: “Democracy Dies in Darkness” and they, and other media like them, are the ones blowing out the candles.
What about the report on the killing of Ashli Babbitt?
Say the name: Ashli Babbitt!
Ashli Babbitt is the true Martyr to democracy. Murdered just for protesting an election with legitimate questions about its fairness.
Multiple election issues, including:
Election irregularities
Change in election rules (not approved by state legislatures)
Media promotion of Dem candidates and demotion of Repub candidates
Media censorship
The nation has changed, radically, in the last two decades. We used to have a semi-independent media which acted as a public watchdog on the actions, policies and ideologies of those n positions of power. Even though the MSM shared similar biases, there were enough up and comers, particularly in the cable news arena, to provide some balance and transparency. That is all but completely gone now. Now, for all intents and purposes, nearly the entire news media is nothing more than a scripted propaganda organ for radical left wing ideologies controlled by the hyper-rich, elite establishment.
Truth is irrelevant. The narratives are everything. Black man is reportedly strangle by cops keeling on his neck. The fact that the autopsy produced no evidence of this and, in fact, showed that he most likely died as a result of an self induced drug overdose compounded by severe co-morbidity conditions is ignored. Police accused of shooting unarmed black man in back seven times, by the media. The media all but silent when the man admits, in a live interview that he was armed with a knife. Reports of the son of the future and current President of the United States, reliably accused of influence peddling, in his father’s name, ignored. Admissions, by high government officials, that actual fraud was committed with regard to FISA court proceedings, ignored. Well documented election law violations, in a Presidential election ignored. Extremely strong reasonable suspicion that actual vote fraud occurred, in the same election, ignored. And the list goes on and on.
Yet, a totally unverified political opposition hit piece is treated as though it were divinely inspired, for three years. Outright lies and inferences of wrongdoing, against a President with ideological views contrary to the media and its masters, are relentlessly pursued. And, when proven to be false, are essentially ignored. Any information which may be exculpatory or at odds with the propagation of a chosen narrative are roundly ignored or attacked without corroboration.
To make matters worse, the public has been indoctrinated, for the last 70 years, to do nothing unless they are personally affected by the actions of those in authority or those in authority tell them to take a specific action. Case in point is the current situation with the deplorables. Most of them are still waiting for Donald Trump, or some other leader, to tell them what to do. Until they are on the verge of starvation, because their family business is close, or they and their children are on the verge of a nervous breakdown, because schools are still closed, they do nothing, except whine. That is what they have been trained to do. Do not get involved. Do not demand that your elected representatives, and others in positions of authority, address your needs. If there is a tipping point, no one knows where it is. And, for that reason, it is impossible to accurately predict the consequences if, or when, it is reached.
When the safeguards of a free society breakdown, then the society either collapses or is reset.
I don’t think it odd in the least that an autopsy was not performed; the Left knew very well that they were spewing LIES. They didn’t want an official investigation that would contradict their message.
This is an example of why the press really is what is driving our country into disrepair.
I hope the family gets answers, and get to have some closure. They had to learn in the press first that he was murdered by a fire extinguisher, then he wasn’t while they saw his death used to create a narrative he wouldn’t have approved while he lived.
Losing a loved one is bad enough without that.