U.S. Capitol Police officer testifies about January 6 attack in trial over alleged lawmaker threats

A U.S. Capitol Police officer testified Friday in a jury trial for a New York man accused of threatening to murder U.S. lawmakers. The officer, Special Agent Christopher Desrosiers, is believed to be the first Capitol police officer to testify in a criminal trial connected to the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6.

The defendant, Brendan Hunt, did not participate in the siege in D.C. but was charged for statements he made online before and after the attacks. A video that prosecutors said he posted on the video-sharing site Bitchute two days after the Capitol riot was titled "KILL YOUR SENATORS" and urged viewers to return to the Capitol with guns to "slaughter" members of Congress.  Hunt's trial will center around issues of freedom of speech, as a jury hears arguments to decide whether his alleged online posts amounted to illegal threats against members of Congress.