Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Screenshot: CBS News YouTube Channel
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy defended Capitol Police officer Lieutenant Michael Byrd, who shot and killed unarmed Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt during the January 6th, 2021 riot at the Capitol.
It’s quite the different story than the one told by his new buddy in Congress, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who said during a meeting of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on Tuesday that Babbitt was “murdered.”
“Ashli Babbitt has, there’s never been a trial,” Greene said. “As a matter of fact, no one has cared about the person that shot and killed her and no one in this Congress has really addressed that issue.”
McCarthy was asked by a HuffPost reporter if he agreed with Greene’s sentiments.
“I think the police officer did his job,” he admitted.
RELATED: Report: Documents Show Ashli Babbitt Unarmed, Judicial Watch Says ‘No Good Reason’ For Shooting
Babbitt, a Trump supporter and Air Force veteran, was the only person killed during the riot when she was gunned down.
Capitol Police officer Lieutenant Michael Byrd identified himself as the shooter in an interview with “NBC Nightly News” anchor Lestor Holt.
He said taking down Babbitt, who was unarmed but tried to climb through broken glass into the House chamber, showed the “utmost courage.”
Internal documents from DC Metropolitan Police, obtained through a FOIA lawsuit by the conservative group Judicial Watch, show witnesses had not seen Babbitt holding a weapon.
They also provide conflicting reports as to whether she was verbally warned before being fired upon by Byrd.
Texas Representative Troy Nehls said the findings could have led to manslaughter charges for Byrd, if not worse, though that is debateable.
The revelations also prompted Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton to declare there was “no good reason” to shoot Babbitt.
“The Biden-Garland Justice Department … have much to answer for over the mishandling and cover-up of this scandalous killing of an American citizen by the U.S. Capitol Police,” Fitton said.
Former President Donald Trump said he “totally disagree(s)” with McCarthy’s assessment, calling Byrd a “coward” and insisting Ashli Babbitt “was murdered.”
Byrd, he claimed “was not just ‘doing his job’ when he shot and killed Great Patriot Ashli Babbitt at point blank range,” Trump said on his Truth Social media platform.
“He was not a hero but a COWARD, who wanted to show how tough he was,” the Republican presidential candidate insisted. “ASHLI BABBITT WAS MURDERED!!!”
Byrd, though, had been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing and was cleared internally by the Capitol Police Department in August of 2021.
The internal review “determined the officer’s conduct was lawful and within Department policy,” according to a statement by Capitol Police, and as such he would not face disciplinary action.
Babbitt’s family’s lawyer has argued that she was “not an imminent threat of death or serious injury to anyone.”
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View Comments
So Byrd's duty was to kill unarmed intruders?
Well!
Ashli Babbitt was MURDERED.
Until such time as the Capitol Police and Congress with the Senate insist on a proper lawful Jury Trial of the apparently cowardly brutal murderer - IN PUBLIC - then Justice is IMPOTENT and ALL the above are acting UNlawfully.
Where a CRIME as serious as MURDER is alleged, there MUST BE a Trial - no IF's or BUT's - arrogant and RACIST politics must not over-rule the Constitution.
Justice for ASHLI BABBITT !!!!! Get OFF your BUTT McCarthy get JUSTICE DONE !!
strike Two
When the corrupt are the judges, the reporters and the legislators, justice can neither be sought nor found.
Kevin you are crapping in your nest boy
Well, it most certainly didn't take him long to revert to form.
I WAS starting to think mccarthy would be a good speaker, NOW I think he's an BLIND IDIOT!!!!
Allowing the Capitol Police, who was under the thumb of Nancy Pelosi at the time of this murder, to investigate itself is highly problematic.
Although I like what McCarthy did with the committee assignments, we must remember and never forget that he is truly Deep State. Give him time and his true colors will shine.