PHOENIX, AZ – On the 6 month anniversary of the protest by Trump supporters at the U.S. Capitol, Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar issued a statement asking ‘who killed Ashli Babbitt?’ Babbitt was killed in the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021 at the hands of a person described as a Capitol Police officer.
“Six months ago today, Ashli Babbitt, a 110-pound woman with nothing in her hands, not a rock, not a stick or a bat, was shot dead by a still unknown Capitol Hill police officer. Her death has been ruled a homicide. Yet, we have very little information about her death. Our fake news media has asked no questions or sought information about this tragedy. So, I have. And now President Trump has joined me in seeking the truth,” said Gosar in a press release.
It’s more as well. Why did he feel lethal force was necessary? Why no force continuum? No warnings. Why hide in a vestibule instead of standing as a barrier and giving commands? Why did 3 SWAT officers next to Ashli not find her a threat? We need transparency. https://t.co/ALfcb2ixuq
— Paul Gosar (@DrPaulGosar) July 2, 2021
Gosar noted in his announcement that normally the name of an officer is released after they are involved in a shooting. In the case Babbitt, however, the officer’s identity has been kept secret as well as the details of the shooting.
Given how widespread these false stories were and how crucial they were in shaping perceptions – they were cited often in the impeachment process – it’s quite revealing how little effort there is to explain what happened let alone prominently retract it.https://t.co/msYDRXGd7J
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 17, 2021
“Why won’t the Department of Justice identify the shooter? Why won’t the Department of Justice release the nearly 14,000 hours of surveillance video taken on January 6? I have asked for this for months,” said Gosar. “Why haven’t the SWAT team members standing by Ashli at the moment of her murder been interrogated and their statements released? They were right next to her and saw no threat. Certainly, no lethal threat. Why were there no warnings given or escalation of command and force in proper law enforcement technique? Why have no charges been brought against the shooter for negligent homicide or more?”
Gosar says it “unjust to sweep Ashli’s death under the rug by merely saying she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, as so many have. Her life mattered. We do not allow the execution of citizens by street “justice” in our country. We have rejected vigilantism and police abuse for generations.”
Gosar argues that Babbitt’s family and the American people “deserve to know the truth about her death. A fair investigation is needed, and this cannot just be hidden from public scrutiny. Transparency is critical for the public to accept the conclusions. I will not stop my quest to find answers to who killed Ashli Babbitt,” said Gosar.
Several websites, including the New York Times have suggested the shooter was a lieutenant in the Capitol Police Department.
The family of Ms. Babbitt is suing to find out the identity of that officer. Her family also plans to sue the Capitol Police for $10 million over her death, accusing the officer of excessive force “and possibly failure to train, discipline and supervise the officer who killed Babbitt,” according to CNBC.
Video showing shooting of Ashli Babbitt. Warning graphic material.