Nation

Brian Sicknick suffered 2 strokes, died of natural causes, says chief medical examiner

Published

1 year ago

April 19, 2021

Washington, D.C.’s chief medical examiner has ruled that Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick sustained two strokes and died of natural causes one day after he engaged against rioters at the January 6 Capitol attack, The Washington Post reported Monday afternoon.

Monday’s ruling will probably make it challenging for prosecutors to file homicide charges in Sicknick’s death. A pair of men are accused of assaulting Sicknick by employing a powerful chemical spray meant for bears at him during the riot and have been charged with assaulting the 42-year-old officer with a deadly weapon, but the two haven’t been charged with homicide.

Francisco Diaz, the medical examiner, told The Post in an interview that the autopsy discovered no evidence Sicknick experienced an allergic reaction to chemical irritants, which Diaz said would have resulted in Sicknick’s throat quickly seizing. No evidence of internal or external injuries was found, the medical examiner also reportedly said.

Diaz, according to The Post, noted that Sicknick, who had been with Capitol Police since 2008, was among the hundreds of officers who confronted the violent mob at the U.S. Capitol and said “all that transpired played a role in his condition.”

After returning to his office during the riot, Sicknick collapsed and then died about eight hours later on January 7.

The medical examiner, according to The Post, said he could not comment on whether Sicknick had a preexisting medical condition, citing privacy laws.

The officer laid in honor under the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in early February. Sicknick was then buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

You can follow Douglas Braff on Twitter @DouglasPBraff.

Nation

BLM co-founder used funds to pay sister, mother, brother and child’s father

Published

1 day ago

May 18, 2022

Sara Carter Staff

Released tax filings show just how Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors spent the millions of dollars raised from “White guilt.” She paid roughly $970,000 to the company of her child’s father to help “produce live events” and other “creative services.”

Over $840,000 was paid to her brother, Paul Cullors, for security services. Daily Mail wrote that “leaders have attempted to justify” the expenses to her brother by saying the “foundation’s protection could not be entrusted to former police professionals who typically run security firms because the BLM movement is known for vehemently protesting law enforcement organizations.”

It was recently disclosed that she bought a $6 million mansion in L.A. for the organization, and denied she took money from BLM for personal matters, although shortly after it was unearthed that she had used the mansion for her own parties.

Cullors also reportedly “reimbursed BLM $73,523 for a charter flight for foundation-related travel, which the organization says she took in 2021 out of concern for COVID-19 and security threats.”

Cullors resigned last year from the organization due to criticism of her finances, such as purchasing multiple homes for herself that cost millions of dollars combined. She also admitted the charity was paying for “employment” of her sister, mother, and brother.

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Inc revealed from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, it ended the fiscal year with nearly $42 million in net assets. “The foundation invested $32 million in stocks from the $90 million it received as donations amid racial justice protests in 2020” adds Daily Mail.