Hot on the heels of Friday’s story from Reuters that destroyed the “insurrection” narrative Democrats and the media have pushed about the Capitol riots comes a report from NBC News with an update on the U.S. Capitol Police department’s internal investigation into the January 6th officer-involved shooting death of Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt:
The Capitol Police officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt outside a door of the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot has been formally exonerated after an internal investigation, according to a department memo obtained by NBC News.The officer, whose name has not been released, opened fire on Babbitt as she and a mob of other Trump supporters tried to forcefully enter the Capitol.[…]A memo from the commander of the Capitol Police’s Office of Personal Responsibility says “no further action will be taken in this matter” after the officer was exonerated for use of force.The Capitol Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A lawyer for Babbitt’s family declined to comment.
As of this writing, NBC News has not released a copy of the memo.
Back in April, President Biden’s Department of Justice announced they had closed the investigation into the fatal shooting and would not be pursuing criminal charges against the officer, citing “insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution.” Here’s a quick recap of their findings:
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia’s Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section and the Civil Rights Division, with the Metropolitan Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division (IAD), conducted a thorough investigation of Ms. Babbitt’s shooting. Officials examined video footage posted on social media, statements from the officer involved and other officers and witnesses to the events, physical evidence from the scene of the shooting, and the results of an autopsy. Based on that investigation, officials determined that there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution.[…]Specifically, the investigation revealed no evidence to establish that, at the time the officer fired a single shot at Ms. Babbitt, the officer did not reasonably believe that it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber. Acknowledging the tragic loss of life and offering condolences to Ms. Babbitt’s family, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Department of Justice have therefore closed the investigation into this matter.
Though neither the Biden DOJ nor the Capitol Police department are pursuing charges against the officer, that doesn’t mean this chapter of the Capitol riots is closed.
In May, the attorney for Ashli Babbitt’s family announced they were suing the Capitol Police and had plans to sue the officer involved in her death as well:
The attorney representing the family of Ashli Babbitt, the woman shot and killed by U.S. Capitol Police during the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, plans to sue the agency for more than $10 million and has already put officials on notice, demanding accountability for the slain Air Force veteran.“Right now, we have no accountability — zero accountability — they give no explanation to justify the shooting and they do not even identify the officer. That is what they do in autocratic countries, not in the United States,” said Terrell N. Roberts III, a Maryland-based attorney.[…]Mr. Roberts, the family attorney, told The Washington Times he’ll sue the Capitol Police under the Federal Tort Claims Act, which generally requires a notice of six months before filing a lawsuit.The family will also pursue claims against the officer who shot Babbitt.
According to the Air Force Times, Babbitt “was a security forces airman who achieved the rank of senior airman, or E-4, while on active duty.” They also noted that she “served more than 12 years in different parts of the Air Force.” Babbitt was 35-years-old at the time of her death.
— Stacey Matthews has also written under the pseudonym “Sister Toldjah” and can be reached via Twitter. —
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY