Former police office Michael Fanone had to be separated from President Donald Trump's self-proclaimed "secretary of retribution" during a break in Jack Smith's congressional testimony.
The former special counsel testified publicly Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee, and Fanone, a retired Washington, D.C., police officer who was seriously injured during the Jan. 6 insurrection and testified about his experience during the riot, confronted MAGA loyalist Ivan Raiklin, who had been seated behind him, during a break.
"Hey, Michael," Raiklin said in a video he posted of the encounter, holding out his hand to shake.
"Hey, what's up buddy?" Fanone replied, turning around. "Go f--- yourself."
"Why do you have to swear at me?" Raiklin protested.
"What's that?" Fanone said. "Oh, don't pretend we're not mortal enemies. Go f--- yourself."
"Why do you have to lose your cool with me?" Raiklin complained. "I'm always professional with you. Every time I communicate with you, I'm always professional."
"Go f--- yourself," Fanone repeated. "You're a traitor to this country."
Fanone, just steps away from former Capitol police officer Harry Dunn, who had been holding him back, confronted Raiklin.
"You threatened my family, and you threatened my wife," Fanone said. "You're a traitor to this f---ing country. Go f--- yourself."
"Why are you so spasmodic?" Raiklin asked, and Fanone challenged him to "do something." "Why should I? I'm communicating with you, trying to calm you down. Look at your face right now, I think you need to control yourself."
"F--- you, I'm using a lot of restraint right now," Fanone said, as Dunn pulled him away. "Come get me."
"Look at me, total control of my mind and body," Raiklin intoned, as a Capitol police officer attempted to separate the men. "Total control of my mind and body, and I'm totally dominating you right now. Totally dominating you right now."
The officer then asked Raiklin to step aside, and Fanone launched another accusation.
"This guy is threatening my family," Fanone said. "He threatened my children, threatened to rape my children – rape my children, you sick bastard. Rape my children!"
Another Capitol police officer led Fanone and Dunn from the hearing room as Raiklin smirked into the camera and Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) banged his gavel and called for order.
"Thank you, Mr. Fanone," said Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the ranking Democrat, as supporters stood up and applauded as Fanone and Dunn were escorted out by a police officer. "Mr. Chairman, please control the deranged observer, Mr. Raiklin, so he doesn't create any other problems with this today."
"Imagine what he did on Jan. 6 with that demeanor," Raiklin replied from his seat. "Look at my demeanor."
