I'm Jonathan K. Hart and welcome to K-PART.

On January 6th, 2021, more than 850 Metropolitan Police Officers

raced to the U.S. Capitol to defend it against the mob

instigated by Donald Trump. One of those officers was Michael Fanon

and what he endured was Bart Barrick. We all watched it live on television,

but in his new book, Hold the Line, the insurrection and one cops battle for

America's soul. Officer Fanon takes us back to that day

through his painful experience and urgent perspective.

In this conversation, first recorded for a Washington Post live on

October 18th, Fanon talks about his life as an undercover DC cop,

his unlikely friendship with a crack-addicted black transgender woman

and why he continues to speak out about what happened on January 6th.

There's a part of America that is just never going to accept the reality of

January 6th. And frankly, I don't care what I'm looking

for as accountability. I feel like if there's not

accountability for those that are criminally culpable,

then it's just going to become part of our political playbook.

And in future elections when politicians or political parties don't get

their way, they're going to resort to violence to intimidate others.

In this job, I get to talk to a lot of people,

but I rarely get to talk to a genuine hero.

Officer Fanon, it is my honor to welcome you to Washington Post live.

...