Two Men Charged With Assault on Police Officer Brian Sicknick, Who Died After Capitol Breach

On Sunday, two men were arrested and charged with assaulting police officer Brian Sicknick, who died shortly after the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. The Justice Department said Monday that Julian Elie Khater, 32, and George Pierre Tanios, 39, each face nine counts related to the Capitol attack, including the assault of Sicknick and two other federal agents with a chemical irritant; the charges carry a maximum of 20 years in prison. Prosecutors did not link Khater and Tanios' attack with Sicknick's death the following day, as the cause of Sicknick's death is still publicly unknown. The Washington Post reported that officials disputed early reporting that Sicknick was killed by blunt force trauma. Capitol police said in a statement on Feb. 26 that the investigation into Sicknick's death is ongoing. The story received wide coverage across the political spectrum; outlets from all sides focused on the details of Sicknick's death and on the charges. The Hill highlighted the fact that House Democrats cited Sicknick’s death in their impeachment case against former President Donald Trump, who was accused of inciting the Capitol breach.