The Capitol police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt on January 6, 2021, is alleged to have a track record of lying to investigators. Michael L. Byrd, now 56, previously left his post at the Speaker’s Office to join a card game and subsequently provided false information during an internal investigation by Capitol Police’s Internal Affairs Division. However, despite recommendations for termination due to abandoning his post and making untruthful statements, Byrd was not fired.
Recent disclosures about Byrd’s past have raised questions about his 2023 promotion to captain, with concerns expressed by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) about Byrd’s disciplinary history potentially affecting internal operational decisions.
Records indicate that Byrd received significant financial support and security assistance from Capitol Police following the January 6 killing of Babbitt, with over $36,000 in retention funds and thousands more in reimbursements for security upgrades.
Byrd was provided temporary lodging at a military facility, along with a security detail, and was under consideration for placement at a secure Capitol Police site.
Further scrutiny of Byrd’s record has revealed additional incidents, including a suspension in 2019 for leaving a loaded service weapon unattended in a public area.
Byrd’s financial history, marked by multiple bankruptcies and a significant tax lien, has also been reviewed.
Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has demanded murder charges to be brought against Byrd over the killing, calling on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Attorney General pick, Pam Bondi, to bring the charges.
The mother of Ashli Babbitt, meanwhile, has celebrated President Trump’s promise to pardon those still held in custody over the January 6 riots.