Ashli Babbitt's Killer, Capitol Cop Michael Byrd, Gets Rewarded with Promotion
By Jack Davis | Western Journal | August 26, 2023 | Condensed
The Capitol Police lieutenant who shot [unarmed, non-violent] Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt to death during the Capitol incursion will be promoted to captain, according to a new report.
Michael Byrd’s promotion was revealed by Roll Call, which said an internal document it reviewed showed Byrd is among 30 Capitol Police employees being promoted on Sunday.
A representative of the department said it does not discuss personnel matters.
“The promotional process is competitive and equitable,” the representative said, adding that promotions “were well earned across the Department to include multiple Captains, Lieutenants, and Sergeants.”
While Byrd was officially cleared of wrongdoing in Babbitt’s death, a use-of-force expert has condemned his actions.
In a documentary created by The Epoch Times, expert Stan Kephart said Babbitt should not have been killed.
“My conclusion … based on what I saw and observed in the video clips is that Ashli Babbitt was murdered,” said Kephart, who served 42 years in law enforcement and was director of security for the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.
“She was shot and killed under color of authority by an officer who violated not only the law but his oath and committed an arrestable offense,” Kephart said.
Last year, former President Donald Trump spoke about the incident in a call with demonstrators protesting the treatment of Jan. 6 prisoners.
“We love Ashli, and it was so horrible what happened to her. That man [who] shot Ashli is a disgrace and then he goes on television, and it looks like he was actually bragging about it,” Trump said.
Byrd defended his actions last year in an interview with NBC News.
Byrd said that at the moment he killed Babbitt, “she was posing a threat to the United States House of Representatives.”
However, documents obtained by Judicial Watch from the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police regarding Babbitt’s death showed Babbitt was not holding a weapon at the time of the shooting.
“These previously secret records show there was no good reason to shoot and kill Ashli Babbitt,” Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton said.
Department of Justice Closes Investigation into the Death of Ashli Babbitt, the focus of inquiry seemed to be under a civil rights law, rather than the more clear-cut concept of homicide.
Months earlier, the DC medical examiner established that Ms. Babbitt's death was a homicide. In the investigation of a homicide, committed by a known person, isn't the normal focus on whether or not the homicide was justified or not?
The DOJ said that "The investigation revealed no evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer willfully committed a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 242" Why would the U.S. Attorney focus on civil-rights law, rather than laws specific to homicide?
For example, why not focus on 18 U.S. Code § 1112 - Manslaughter, where the concept of willfulness is not applicable?
DC Code, § 5–351 states
(b) A law enforcement officer shall not use deadly force against a person unless: (1) The law enforcement officer reasonably believes that deadly force is immediately necessary to protect the law enforcement officer or another person, other than the subject of the use of deadly force, from the threat of serious bodily injury or death; (2) The law enforcement officer's actions are reasonable, given the totality of the circumstances; and (3) All other options have been exhausted or do not reasonably lend themselves to the circumstances.
It goes on to state definitions of factors to be considered by a trier of fact, such as what the "totality of circumstances" means, including:
Whether the subject of the use of deadly force: (i) Possessed or appeared to possess a deadly weapon; and (ii) Refused to comply with the law enforcement officer's lawful order to surrender an object believed to be a deadly weapon prior to the law enforcement officer using deadly force.
Without warning, as is required before using deadly force whenever possible, this man fatally shot an unarmed woman who posed no immediate threat !! His judgement will come as Matthew 5:21 states “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment."
They are Afraid to Convict an African American for the Murder of Ashley Babbitt. We all watched it. More J6 tapes will be released and we will see clearly again.