One of the most shocking images from the riot at the U.S. Capitol was the image of a police officer wearing a red “Make America Great Again” cap as he led throngs of pro-Trump rioters into the building.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Lt. Tarik Khalid Johnson reportedly told his colleagues that the images weren’t what they seemed to be. Johnson- who is black-claims he donned the MAGA cap as a ruse. It was apart of a cunning plan to rescue more than a dozen other officers who were trapped during the riot.
Johnson even provided a witness that said the lieutenant’s action enabled a set of doors to the Capitol to be closed, shutting off an entry point to more intruders.
Johnson voted as a registered Democrat in the Maryland primary last year. His colleagues say he wasn’t known to be a Trump supporter, and some were surprised when the picture of him wearing the pro-Trump slogan was circulated.
Lt. Johnson told co-workers that he put on the cap to win the trust of a handful of the protesters. Video footage recorded on an iPhone 12 showed Lt. Johnson recruiting a handful of rioters to help him free about 16 officers from the violent mob. Still, the video doesn’t show when or how he put ended up wearing the cap.
