Video Still: Rioters break into the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Column By Mike Bibb
It’s been nearly six months since the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Even though the event was erroneously described by the media as an “armed insurrection,” the only person to have actually been shot and killed was an unarmed female protester. Her death came at the hands of an armed Capitol police officer.
To date, the police officer remains unnamed and uncharged in the death.
A recently filed lawsuit by the husband of the deceased woman seeks to rectify the situation.
In the chaos of the riots, Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, 35, was surrounded by a group of individuals seeking to gain unlawful entry into the Capitol building. During her attempt to enter the facility a videoed police officer’s arm, hand and pistol can clearly be seen shooting Babbitt. She soon died from the wound.
However, the video did not reveal the police officer’s face. His/her identity has been suppressed by authorities. Actually, the Justice Department determined in mid-April the officer will not face prosecution because there was insufficient evidence to prove the officer violated Babbitt’s civil rights. Insinuating, I guess, Babbitt’s life or death, is a civil rights matter — not a natural right inherited from nature or God.
Yet, Mrs. Babbit was unquestionably shot and killed by a police officer without the benefit of at least being warned or arrested for the transgression.
Even more disconcerting is why this particular police officer used deadly force to thwart an unarmed woman while other Capitol police were willingly permitting numerous protesters to walk into the building without resistance.
Another bewildering feature of the confusion is why several demonstrators were arrested on trespassing violations and continue to remain in jail — six months later. They haven’t been tried or convicted, were not carrying weapons, and didn’t physically threaten anyone.
After a few hours, demonstrations subsided and Congress reconvened. An on-duty police officer did perish, but it’s been determined by a medical examiner his death was caused by a series of strokes the day after the riots. Obviously, the officer was experiencing health issues before January 6. He did not die, as President Biden insisted, during the disturbance.
There seems to be an intentional effort by the government to keep certain facts of the demonstration from public disclosure.
Ashli Babbitt’s husband, Aaron, filed a complaint in D.C. Superior Court indicating the police “failed to comply” with his Freedom of Information request to obtain the name of the police officer involved in the incident. The police department’s deadline to furnish the information or refuse to comply with the request expired in mid-May.
The police department did neither realizing, perhaps, the DOJ had already determined the officer would not be facing charges relating to the event.
In a June 15, 2021 interview on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson show, Aaron Babbitt insisted “Somebody in D.C. knows (the officer’s identity), I think a lot of people know, but nobody is telling us. The silence is deafening.”
Aaron’s attorney, Terrell Roberts added “I think one of the reasons they are hiding his identity is they don’t have a good reason for this shooting. I think if Ashli Babbitt had been brandishing a firearm and she was shot the officer would be identified by now and pinning a medal on him. So, I don’t think we have an explanation for this shooting and why they have not identified the officer responsible.”
There seem to be several unexplained circumstances surrounding the Capitol riots. The most pressing is why the police were not prepared to adequately handle the situation. They had known for some time about the rally and the large gathering of people that would be attending. Rally goers had been streaming into Washington for several days prior to the event — they didn’t suddenly show up without notice.
Also, the FBI and other government agencies had been monitoring the affair. They, too, were aware of certain individuals who would be attending and speaking, besides President Trump. I’m sure they obtained information through various means and sources indicating there was a possibility the rally could devolve into something less than peaceful.
Undoubtedly, like Aaron Babbitt, we’ll eventually find out the truth behind these concealed or misrepresented occurrences. It may take several lawsuits and Congressional investigations to reveal the true involvement of the government’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, D.C. upheaval.
Remember, we’re just now hearing of some of the deceptions and falsehoods perpetrated under the guise of the COVID-19 pandemic. As time wears on, we’re certain to learn more about both.
