Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol
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By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and congressional leaders paid their respects Tuesday night to Brian Sicknick, the officer who died in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol.
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pay their respects to the late U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick as an urn with his cremated remains lies in honor on a black-draped table at center of Capitol Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pay their respects to the late U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick as an urn with his cremated remains lies in honor on a black-draped table at center of Capitol Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pay their respects to the late U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick as an urn with his cremated remains lies in honor on a black-draped table at center of Capitol Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Leah Millis/Pool via AP)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of Calif., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., pay their respects to the late U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick as an urn with his cremated remains lies in honor on a black-draped table at center of Capitol Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left, and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., pay their respects to the late U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick as an urn with his cremated remains lies in honor on a black-draped table at center of Capitol Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol An honor guard stands at attention as an urn with the cremated remains of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick lies in honor in the Capitol Rotunda Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol A person pays their respects to the late U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick as an urn with his cremated remains lies in honor on a black-draped table at the center of Capitol Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol A placard is displayed with an image of the late U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick on it as people wait for an urn with his cremated remains to be carried into the U.S. Capitol to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Brendan Smialowski/Pool via AP)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., watches as an honor guard carries an urn with the cremated remains of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick into the Capitol Rotunda to lie in honor Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol An honor guard carries an urn with the cremated remains of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick and a folded American flag up the steps of the U.S Capitol to lie in honor in the Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Jim Lo Scalzo/Pool photo via AP)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol Family members watch as an honor guard carries an urn with the cremated remains of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick and a folded American flag up the steps of the U.S Capitol to lie in honor in the Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Tasos Katopodis/Pool via AP)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol An honor guard carries an urn with the cremated remains of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick and a folded American flag up the steps of the U.S Capitol to lie in honor in the Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol An honor guard carries an urn with the cremated remains of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick and a folded American flag up the steps of the U.S Capitol to lie in honor in the Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Tasos Katopodis/Pool via AP)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol An honor guard carries an urn with the cremated remains of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick and a folded American flag up the steps of the U.S Capitol to lie in honor in the Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (Tasos Katopodis/Pool via AP)
Biden, congressional leaders pay respects to Officer Brian Sicknick at US Capitol U.S. Capitol Police officers stand at attention as an urn with the cremated remains of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick arrives at the U.S Capitol to lie in honor at in the Rotunda, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)
Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden paused at the cremated remains of Sicknick, which were placed in the center of the Rotunda of the Capitol. The president and first lady placed their hands over their hearts before moving to a floral tribute to the officer. President Biden, a Catholic, also made the sign of the cross. The president could be seen shaking his head as he and the first lady paused again.
Earlier, House and Senate leaders from both parties came to the Capitol to pay their respects to Sicknick.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Friday that Sicknick would lie in honor at the Capitol.
Officers from Sicknick’s unit lined up near the steps outside, The New York Times reported. Pelosi and Schumer stood to the side as Sicknick’s remains arrived.
Sicknick’s remains arrived at the Capitol at 9:30 p.m. ET, and members of the U.S. Capitol Police force began viewing 30 minutes later.
Two U.S. Capitol Police Officers who were shot to death in 1998 were the first private citizens to lie in state at the Capitol, CNN reported. Lying in state at the Rotunda is typically reserved for leaders of U.S. government.
Civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks and the Rev. Billy Graham are the only other two individuals who have received the honor, the Times reported.
“The family of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick thanks the Congressional leadership for bestowing this historic honor on our fallen American hero,” Sicknick’s partner, Sandra Garza, and his family said in a statement. “Knowing our personal tragedy and loss is shared by our nation brings hope for healing.”