Capitol Police officer died of natural causes after attack -medical examiner

By Brad Heath and Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The District of Columbia's chief medical examiner has ruled that Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick had two strokes and died of natural causes, after he tussled with a mob of former President Donald Trump's supporters at the U.S. Capitol.

The medical examiner's office said on Monday that the 42-year-old officer's cause of death was natural causes after he suffered a stroke. He died the day after the Jan. 6 violence.

The findings mean it will be hard for federal prosecutors to bring homicide charges in connection with Sicknick's death.

Two men - George Tanios and Julian Khater - are facing charges they assaulted three police officers, including Sicknick, by spraying them with a chemical irritant on Jan. 6.

The Washington Post first reported the medical examiner's ruling.

(Reporting by Sarah N. LynchEditing by Alistair Bell)