Danny Hodges
Daniel “Danny” Hodges has become one of the enduring faces of January 6, 2021. The unforgettable footage of the Washington, D.C., police officer being crushed in a Capitol doorway remains among the day’s most searing images. For hours, Hodges fought to hold back a mob attempting to stop Congress from certifying the presidential election - a tradition fundamental to American democracy.
Hodges served six years in the Virginia National Guard and joined the Metropolitan Police Department while still serving. Assigned to its Civil Disturbance Unit, a specialized team trained to respond to large-scale unrest, he was among the officers dispatched to reinforce the Capitol as the attack intensified.
Separated from his unit in the chaos, Hodges later said he “went looking for work.” He found it at the Lower West Terrace tunnel, scene of some of the day’s most brutal fighting.
There, Hodges endured repeated assaults. His baton was turned against him, his gas mask ripped away and his police radio stolen. One attacker attempted to gouge out his eyes. Eventually, the force of the mob pinned him against a metal door frame, trapping his arms and leaving him virtually defenseless as he was beaten. One attacker shouted, “You will die on your knees.”
A fellow officer finally pulled Hodges to safety and washed chemical spray from his face. Bleeding and suffering from a concussion, Hodges did something extraordinary: he returned to the fight.
Testifying before Congress six months later, Hodges said that defending the Capitol was simply fulfilling the oath he had sworn. He called the attackers “terrorists” and rejected claims that January 6 resembled a “normal tourist visit” as a “bald-faced lie.” He also reflected on the disturbing contradiction of seeing Christian symbols carried by people engaged in violence.
When interviewed by this author in Washington in April 2025, Hodges came across as thoughtful, intellectually curious, and remarkably modest. He had not sought celebrity and remained committed to police work.
For his actions on January 6, President Joe Biden awarded Hodges the Presidential Citizens Medal in 2023. He continues to serve as a Metropolitan Police officer and to speak publicly about January 6 and the responsibilities of citizenship.
“Make voting easier, not harder. Stop gerrymandering people into oblivion. Stand on the strength of your ideals, not the depth of your donor’s pockets.”
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 18, 2025