International
Parents of fallen officer snub Republican leaders at ceremony─── 07:51 Wed, 07 Dec 2022
The Republicans' leader in the American Senate has been snubbed by the family of a police officer who died following the US Capitol riots on 6 January 2021.
The officers have been recognised with Congressional gold medals for "courageously answering the call to defend our democracy in one of the nation's darkest hours", House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell commented: "Thank you for having our backs. Thank you for saving our country. Thank you for not only being our friends, but our heroes."
But when the family of Brian Sicknick, who died after suffering two strokes on 7 January, passed McConnell in a line-up, they refused to shake his outstretched hand.
It happened during a ceremony held for officers who defended the Washington DC landmark against Donald Trump supporters.
In contrast, the Democrats' leader in the Senate, Chuck Schumer, received a kiss from Gladys Sicknick, the late officer's mother.
