The officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt on January 6 has been formally exonerated by the U.S. Capitol Police.
In a Monday statement, the Capitol Police announced that the agency completed the investigation into the fatal shooting of Babbitt.
“USCP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) determined the officer’s conduct was lawful and within Department policy, which says an officer may use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes that action is in the defense of human life, including the officer’s own life, or in the defense of any person in immediate danger of serious physical injury,” Capitol Police said.
The statement continued, “The officer in this case, who is not being identified for the officer’s safety, will not be facing internal discipline.”
The Capitol Police noted the officer and the officer’s family have “been the subject of numerous credible and specific threats for actions that were taken as part of the job of all our officers: defending the Congress, Members, staff and the democratic process.”
The statement claims the actions of the officer “potentially saved Members and staff from serious injury and possible death from a large crowd of rioters who forced their way into the U.S. Capitol and to the House Chamber where Members and staff were steps away.”
Read the statement below:
Here's the US Capitol Police announcement about the conclusion of the internal probe into the officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during the Jan. 6 riots: https://t.co/mJ8d6XQlrV
"the officer’s conduct was lawful and within Department policy" pic.twitter.com/qOn54JuFW5
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) August 23, 2021
The Capitol Police added, “If the doors were breached, the rioters would have immediate access to the House Chambers. The officer’s actions were consistent with the officer’s training and USCP policies and procedures.”
According to The Washington Post, Babbitt “climbed up toward a broken section of the unguarded door” and “was shot by an officer on the other side.” She was reportedly wearing a Trump flag as a cape.
Earlier this month, the former president released a statement seemingly claiming that he knew the officer who shot and killed Babbitt, as IJR reported.
He said she was “murdered at the hands of someone who should never have pulled the trigger of his gun,” adding, “We know who he is.”
Trump continued, “If that happened to the ‘other side,’ there would be riots all over America and yet, there are far more people represented by Ashli, who truly loved America, than there are on the other side. The Radical Left haters cannot be allowed to get away with this. There must be justice!”
