House Democrats urged the U.S. Capitol Police to provide special financial assistance and even a promotion to the officer who fatally shot unarmed protester Ashli Babbitt during the January 6 riot. This resulted in tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer and charitable aid that was not extended to other officers, according to internal emails reviewed by Just the News.
“He is very upset about how he is being treated. He wants us to figure this out and now,” a top congressional aide to then-House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, wrote to Capitol Police in November 2021 pressing for more assistance to Lt. Michael Byrd after he killed Babbitt, the outlet reported. The records reveal that pressure to assist the officer also came from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s staff and then-Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, prompting Capitol Police to explore any possible solutions to satisfy Byrd and Democratic leaders. Despite receiving significant assistance, Byrd expressed dissatisfaction and continued to demand more, frustrating Capitol Police officials, according to congressional records.
“We play the game as you request and then once we’re in compliance You guys change the rules on us,” Byrd said in a communique with U.S. Capitol Police General Counsel Thomas DiBiase in November 2021 after learning he could not immediately access charitable funds from a memorial fund for fallen or wounded officers. The department’s chief eventually informed Byrd that no additional assistance would be provided from the memorial fund. Instead, Capitol Police facilitated the creation of a GoFundMe campaign, which raised over $160,000 for Byrd. Among those who contributed and promoted the fundraiser was Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., along with other progressive supporters, Just the News reported, citing the memos.
The revelations emerged from an investigation by Chairman Barry Loudermilk’s House Administration Oversight Subcommittee into the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP). The probe also uncovered that Byrd has a substantial disciplinary history, including six referrals to the USCP’s Office of Professional Responsibility. According to a report by Just the News earlier this month, at least one of these incidents led to a referral to a prosecutor, while others resulted in temporary suspensions.
“In addition to USCP’s decision to promote Byrd despite his disciplinary history, I also have concerns about the decisions USCP made with respect to Byrd after January 6, 2021,” Loudermilk wrote in a letter to current USCP Chief Thomas Manger, previously published by Just the News. Loudermilk told the Just the News, No Noise TV show that while it is understandable that House Democratic leadership would want to ensure Byrd was supported given the unfortunate circumstances of taking a life, their efforts to secure assistance for the then-lieutenant far exceeded the level of support typically provided to other officers.
“[They] went to extremes, to where they gave bonuses to officers who are on the front line of the battle, that was a few thousand dollars—Byrd gets one of $37,000 okay, it’s not equally played,” Loudermilk said. “I think people should really be considering the earlier question, which is whether he should have been on the force,” the chairman said referring to the now-captain’s lengthy disciplinary record.
“The committee’s investigation uncovered evidence that the USCP went to extraordinary lengths to promote Byrd and provide him financial support dwarfing that received by other officers on duty on Jan. 6, including attempts to use a memorial fund for wounded officers to compensate him,” Just the News noted further, citing the memos.
Internal U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) emails obtained by Chairman Barry Loudermilk’s subcommittee and reviewed by Just the News reveal that the department made extensive efforts to provide significant benefits to Byrd following the shooting. These included housing, security protection due to threats against his life, and considerable efforts to promote then-Lieutenant Byrd to the rank of captain.
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