Dominican Republic Senate recognizes sergeant of Dominican origin who defended the United States Capitol

They imprison an ultra-rightist for assaulting the Capitol 2:01

(CNN Spanish) --

The president of the Senate of the Dominican Republic, Eduardo Estrella, gave a special distinction this Thursday to Aquilino Antonio Gonell, an American of Dominican origin who, as a sergeant of the Capitol Police, gained notoriety for his work in the defense of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Estrella and the senator for the province of María Trinidad Sánchez, Alexis Victoria Yeb, highlighted the courage of Gonell, who was seriously injured during the assault on the Capitol.

“I am very happy and also flattered by all the decisions that have been given to me here since I arrived back in the country.

It is a pleasure.

I did it.

Everything I did I did thinking about my job, that I was doing the right thing.

And thank God I have realized that when one does good things, one is recognized for those things," said Antonio Gonell at a press conference from the Senate of the Dominican Republic.

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The Dominican, born in the municipality of Guayubín, in the province of Monte Cristi, left the Dominican Republic at the age of 12.

Source: Senate of the Republic

It should be remembered that, for his actions that day, Gonell was decorated last January by the President of the United States, Joe Biden, at a ceremony held to commemorate the second anniversary of the assault on the Capitol.

Also in January, Gonell received an award from the New York State Senate.

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