Mother of Ashli Babbitt Defends Daughter on Anniversary of Capitol Attack

The mother of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot during the storming of US Capitol on January 6, spoke in defense of her daughter in Washington DC on the first anniversary of her death.

Babbitt was shot and killed by Capitol Police Lieutenant Michael Byrd inside the Capitol during the January 6 attack, when she attempted to breach a barricaded door.

Speaking to media outside the Capitol building, Babbitt’s mother, Micki Witthoeft, said, “My daughter’s voice was stolen from her and it is my obligation to be her voice going forwards.”

Witthoeft said Babbitt was “murdered in front of the world,” and that if Lt. Byrd was “scared” of Babbitt it meant he was “in the wrong business.”

“Justice in my eyes would be reform for the Capitol Police,” said Witthoeft said, who accused Lt. Byrd of failing to adhere to steps that limit the use of force by officers. “He popped around the corner and killed my daughter,” she said.

Witthoeft added that she believed her daughter was “exercising her First Amendment right and her right as an American citizen to protest” when she entered the Capitol.

“I feel that she had a right to be here,” she said. “She died in service of this country, and the way the media paints her is completely wrong.”

In an interview with NBC’s Lester Holt that aired in August, Lt Byrd said he fired his weapon as a “last resort” after the invading crowd failed to comply with police orders.

“I know that day I saved countless lives,” Byrd said. “I know members of Congress, as well as my fellow officers and staff, were in jeopardy and in serious danger.” Credit: Brendan Gutenschwager via Storyful