6:19Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn is sworn-in before testifying before the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, July 27, 2021, at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn is running for Congress in Maryland's 5th Congressional District.
Dunn rose to national prominence for his testimony in congressional hearings about defending the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob of supporters of Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.
"I see the same aggression in ICE agents that I saw from Jan. 6 insurrectionists,” Dunn says in his announcement video released Wednesday, referring to Trump's immigration enforcement operation.
"So tell Donald Trump I'm coming back to the Capitol, this time with a vote, with oversight authority, with subpoena power, with the full constitutional authority granted to a member of the United States Congress," Dunn adds.
The former law enforcement officer enters a crowded Democratic primary in the deep-blue, Southern Maryland district. A dozen Democrats have already filed paperwork with the Maryland State Board of Elections, including Maryland state Del. Adrian Boafo, a former aide to the longtime House Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer, who currently holds the seat. Hoyer endorsed Boafo last month, shortly after announcing his plans to retire from the House at the end of his current term.
Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn is sworn-in before testifying before the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, July 27, 2021, at the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C.Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
"Adrian has proven his ability to deliver results. I’m excited to pass the baton to a public servant who will continue these efforts in Congress," Hoyer said in a statement on X.
Dunn appeared on ABC News Live on Thursday, telling anchor Kyra Phillips that the race in the heavily Democratic Maryland district "isn't about a policy disagreement," but rather "who is most suited to take on this fight."
"Since Jan. 7, I have been front and center to lead the charge to demand accountability," Dunn said.
Dunn expressed criticism over a recent FBI raid at a Fulton County, Georgia, election office involving 2020 election ballots, telling ABC News, "They're attempting to rewrite history and do it in a way that makes Donald Trump look favorable."
This is not Dunn's first run for Congress. In 2024, he came in second in the Democratic primary for Maryland’s 3rd District, losing to now-Rep. Sarah Elfreth. But the former Capitol Police officer says he is confident he has a path to victory this time around: "If I didn't think I could win, I wouldn't be in the race."
"In my last election cycle, it was about the threat of what Donald Trump would do, or the threat of him being a dictator on Day One. It's no longer a threat now, and we're seeing it play out in real time," Dunn added.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com