Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., praised the six police officers who rushed to get people away from the explosive-laden RV early Christmas morning before the massive explosion that killed the bomber and left a major section of downtown devastated.
"The individuals saved so many lives by being wise, being courageous, knowing how to make a decision," Blackburn said Monday on Newsmax TV's "Spicer & Co." "That really speaks to the training that they have gotten from the leadership of the metro Nashville police department that they knew exactly what to do, and they put that plan into place and started saving people and getting people out of the area."
Officers Amanda Topping, Brenna Hosey, James Wells, Michael Sipos, Tyler Luellen, and Sgt. Timothy Miller all received praise for their efforts entering buildings and knocking on doors after hearing the RV's recorded message it would be exploding within minutes.
"I have said if there is anybody who thinks that they're a supporter of defund the police, they need to watch the press conference that these officers gave [Sunday]," Blackburn said. "The spirit of compassion, of humbleness, of desire to serve their fellow man."
Blackburn told host Sean Spicer she has joined Tennessee GOP Gov. Bill Lee in requesting federal disaster assistance for the city.
Asked about the impending Senate vote on President Donald Trump's request for $2,000 per person for stimulus relief, Blackburn appeared to be in the "no" column.
"The best economic stimulus is a job, and I think it is so disrespectful of hardworking Americans that in July, in September, and twice in October and in November, we put additional relief on the floor of the Senate that would have given individuals an extra $300 per week — a lot more than a $2,000 check," she said. "But what did the Democrats to do? They voted in lock step to not give people relief . . . because they felt like it was politically advantageous to them to let people suffer. That is something that is absolutely despicable."
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