Senators all talk but no action, say officer’s family

The mother and partner of the late Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick have voiced their disappointment with Republican senators who blocked legislation to form an independent January 6 commission, arguing that ‘‘the time to do something is now.’’.

Gladys Sicknick, pictured, and

Sandra Garza, the late officer’s companion of 11 years, appeared on CNN after nearly all Senate Republicans banded together in opposition to the measure in a procedural filibuster.

‘‘It’s all talk and no action,’’ Garza said of Republican senators who cast themselves as champions of police officers but voted against the measure.

Brian Sicknick suffered two strokes and died of natural causes a day after he confronted members of the pro-Trump mob during the insurrection. In early February, he was honoured at the US Capitol, with President Joe Biden, Vice-President Kamala Harris and congressional leaders paying their respects.

Nearly 140 officers were assaulted during the attack, as they faced rioters armed with axe handles, bats, metal batons, wooden poles, ice hockey sticks and other weapons, authorities said.

Gladys Sicknick said that when she and Garza met GOP senators the day before the vote, ‘‘they went through their motions, but . . . we knew they weren’t sincere’’.

Garza, a psychotherapist, noted the ‘‘ripple effect of trauma that’s still continuing today’’ in the wake of the January 6 attack. ‘‘Many officers are struggling with PTSD . . . and then it’s the family members that are struggling to pick up the pieces of that daily,’’ she said.