Capitol Hearing Erupts In Chaos As Fanone Clashes With Activist

Tempers flared and emotions ran high at the U.S. Capitol on January 22, 2026, when a House Judiciary Committee hearing featuring former special counsel Jack Smith was rocked by a heated altercation between former D.C. Metropolitan Police officer Michael Fanone and conservative activist Ivan Raiklin. The incident, which unfolded during a break in Smith’s highly anticipated testimony, underscored the enduring volatility surrounding the events of January 6, 2021, and the ongoing investigations into former President Donald Trump.

Fanone, who was severely injured defending the Capitol during the 2021 riot and has since become a vocal critic of Trump, attended the hearing to show support for Jack Smith. Smith, the former Department of Justice special counsel, was testifying publicly for the first time about his high-profile probes into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. According to Newsweek, Smith stated during his testimony, “Our investigation revealed that Donald Trump was not looking for honest answers about whether there was fraud in the election. He was looking for ways to stay in power, and when people told him things that conflicted with him staying in power, he rejected them or he chose not even to contact people like that who would know if the election was done properly.”

But the focus of the day quickly shifted from the committee’s business to the drama unfolding in the hearing room. As video posted to social media and described by Axios and Newsweek shows, Fanone and Raiklin engaged in a tense face-off that required intervention from both former officers and uniformed Capitol Police. Raiklin, a far-right activist frequently seen on Capitol Hill and described by outlets like Rolling Stone as Trump’s “secretary of retribution,” confronted Fanone during a break. The exchange escalated rapidly, with Fanone accusing Raiklin of making horrific threats against his family. “This guy has threatened my family, threatened my children, threatened to rape my children, you sick bastard,” Fanone said, as officers and former colleagues tried to pull him away, according to Nexstar Media and The Associated Press.

Raiklin, for his part, denied the accusations and later suggested on social media that he was considering legal action against Fanone for defamation. “Who thinks I should sue Mr. Fanone for defamation?” Raiklin posted on X (formerly Twitter), as reported by Newsweek. He also attempted to maintain his composure during the incident, telling Fanone, “See how many people are restraining you, and look at me, totally in control over my mind and body.”

The altercation didn’t end there. As the hearing resumed, Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) addressed the former officers in attendance, seeking to absolve Trump of responsibility for the January 6 riot. “I can tell you, gentlemen, that the fault does not lie with Donald Trump. It lies with (former U.S. Capitol Police Chief) Yogananda Pittman and the U.S. Capitol leadership team,” Nehls said, according to The Associated Press. Fanone, visibly frustrated, responded by coughing loudly and slipping in an audible “go f--- yourself” as Nehls spoke—a moment caught on camera and widely shared online.

Fanone’s outburst was not without context. He was among the officers who faced the full brunt of the January 6 attack, suffering a heart attack and traumatic brain injury after being beaten, tased, and sprayed with chemicals. He retired from the force in 2021 and has since become an outspoken advocate for accountability regarding the events of that day. His presence at the hearing was a show of solidarity with Smith, whose investigations have been a lightning rod for political controversy.

The hearing itself was already fraught, with Smith defending his investigations amid sharp criticism from Republican lawmakers. According to Newsweek, Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-California) accused Smith of lacking the “humility and restraint” typically expected of special counsels, alleging that Smith sought “maximum litigation advantage at every turn” and “repeatedly circumvented constitutional limitations.” Smith, however, pushed back against claims of political motivation, insisting, “We followed Justice Department policies. We observed legal requirements and took actions based on the facts and the law. I made my decisions without regard to President Trump’s political association, activities, beliefs of candidacy in the 2024 election.”

Smith also revealed that he expects to be indicted by the Department of Justice, telling the committee, “I believe that they will do everything in their power to do that because they have been ordered to by the president.” The testimony marked the first time Smith publicly addressed the investigations into Trump, which were dropped after Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing and, in response to Smith’s appearance before Congress, lashed out on Truth Social: “Deranged Jack Smith is being DECIMATED before Congress. It was over when they discussed his past failures and unfair prosecutions. He destroyed many lives under the guise of legitimacy. Jack Smith is a deranged animal, who shouldn’t be allowed to practice Law. If he were a Republican, his license would be taken away from him, and far worse! ... The whole thing was a Democrat SCAM — A big price should be paid by them for what they have put our Country through!”

The day’s events were further complicated by the presence of Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers militia, in the hearing room. Rhodes, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the January 6 attack, had his sentence commuted by President Trump as one of his first acts after retaking office in January 2025. His attendance at the hearing added another layer of tension to an already combustible atmosphere.

The incident drew a range of reactions from across the political spectrum. Political commentator Ed Krassenstein commented on X, “The fact that [Fanone] needed to be protected from a far-right agitator says everything about where we are right now.” Meanwhile, conservative commentator “Gunther Eagleman” (David J. Freeman) criticized Fanone’s behavior, writing, “Fanone came out of left field accusing Ivan of saying something that is obviously not on video. He was SCARED and had to have his other crooks 'hold him back' from getting embarrassed. Pathetic and unbecoming of a former law enforcement officer.”

In the wake of the confrontation, additional Capitol Police officers were called to the hearing room to ensure order, and Raiklin left the proceedings shortly thereafter. Fanone was also escorted out of the hearing, according to Fox News.

The explosive episode at the Jack Smith hearing offered a stark reminder of how raw the wounds of January 6 remain and how the political and personal divides it exposed continue to reverberate through the halls of Congress. As the investigations and debates around accountability for that day persist, so too does the passionate—and sometimes volatile—engagement of those who lived through it.