The narrative surrounding US Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd, the officer who fatally shot unarmed Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, has taken an intriguing turn.
Babbitt was attempting to climb through a narrow window near a barricaded entryway to the Speaker of the Houses office area in the U.S. Capitol when she was shot without warning by Byrd. Despite the availability of other armed law enforcement officers in the vicinity, lethal force was used without attempts to subdue or detain Babbitt, raising questions about the escalation of force.
Byrd, who had previously left his Glock 22 service weapon in a Visitors Center bathroom in February 2019 and had his police powers revoked on several occasions for failing to meet semi-annual firearms qualifications standards, was cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation. This exoneration came despite his previous lapses in protocol, and he was later promoted. This information was previously reported by Gateway Pundit in an article outlining a $30 million wrongful death suit brought by Judicial Watch on behalf of Ashlis husband, Aaron Babbitt.
Recently published emails by Just The News have raised further questions regarding Byrds treatment and circumstances. An email from Steve Marchese, who identifies himself as Clerk and Subcommittee Staff Director Legislative Branch Committee on Appropriations for the US House of Representatives, sent on November 18, 2021, to Timothy Blodgett, then and current Chief of Staff for US Capitol Police, reads, [Chairman was speaking with] Lt. Mike Byrd. He is very upset with how he is being treated. He wants us to figure this out and now.
The email that triggered this interaction and upset Byrd concerns the amount of money he was receiving. Two days prior, on November 16th, 2021, Byrd had reached out to US Capitol Police General Counsel Thomas A. DiBiase (TAD) with concerns about the status of the memorial fund and the background check. DiBiase disclosed that Byrd had received $36,000 and specifically drew attention to the fact that other officers were only receiving $3,000 each.
Byrd, who has no evidence or claims of sustaining any injuries on January 6th, was angered by DiBiases response. He wrote, I dont think thats fair to me and my wife[.] [Y]ou know our situation and what weve been dealing with. What you proposed could take months. Our expectation was that this would be done soon. Now youre telling me we got to wait for the rest of the department to even file claims, get evaluated and go through the process we have endured for months.
DiBiase acknowledged that they have already provided [Byrd] $36,000 in unrestricted retention funds and that the rest of the department is only receiving $3,000, less than one-tenth of what Byrd received. He also stated that they are providing Byrd with housing, training to take a Department shotgun home and extensive security upgrades at your personal residence.
Byrds entitlement to these funds remains unclear, as there is no evidence that he was injured or otherwise eligible under the criteria for the Memorial Fund. His response to DiBiases email further highlights his dissatisfaction, stating, We play the game as you request and then once were in compliance You guys change the rules on us.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight, inquired with USCP Chief Thomas Manger to better understand the promotion process that led to Lt. Byrds promotion to Captain. In his letter, Loudermilk mentioned a 2004 incident where then-Sergeant Byrd was referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) for discharging his service weapon at a fleeing vehicle in Prince Georges County, Maryland.
Byrd claimed that he was investigating a loud banging noise in the middle of the night from outside his home. When he went outside with his service weapon, two vans were parked outside of his neighbors house. The vans fled, the first one apparently attempting to hit him. Byrd said he fired two rounds at the oncoming vehicle after shouting STOP!
The second van then drove towards him, at which point Byrd alleges he fired a single round through the window at the drivers side. However, the investigation did not support Byrds claims. Police found a bullet hole near the gas cap of the second van, indicating the van was shot at from behind. One of the investigating officers observed that, based on where [the bullet was found]wheres the threat, because it [was] in the drivers side rear quarter panel.
OPR concluded that the evidence suggests Byrd discharged his service weapon at the vans after they passed him by. Despite this, USCP noted that the investigation found insufficient evidence to determine Byrd violated USCPs Truthfulness policy.
At the conclusion of the investigation, OPR determined that Byrd violated USCPs Use of Force Policy and Use of Weapon Policy by discharging his weapon in a careless and imprudent manner. Specifically, OPR concluded that Byrd improperly discharged his service weapon while his neighbor was in the line of fire and after both stolen vehicles had passed by him. OPR also noted that the Maryland state prosecutor assigned to the incident determined Byrd used bad judgement in his actions responding to the carjacking.
Despite both OPR and Inspector Garner concluding Byrd violated USCP policy, an appeal to the Disciplinary Review Board subsequently overruled OPRs findings and ruled that Byrd did not violate USCP policy. As a result, this incident is reflected as not sustained on Byrds OPR record.
Loudermilk also mentioned a 2015 incident at a football game in Montgomery County, MD, where Byrd called an Montgomery County Police Officer, tasked with preventing people from entering the field, a piece of shit, asshole, and racist. Byrd was suspended for seven days following this incident.
In 2019, Byrd left his loaded service weapon in a House Chambers section restroom for approximately 55 minutes before another officer discovered it. Byrd would end up being suspended for 33 days over that instance.
Shockingly, Loudermilk disclosed three other referrals to the OPR against Byrd. Those records are reportedly missing.
Lt. Byrd appears to have been treated differently from his fellow officers. USCP helped Byrd setup a GoFundMe in November 2021 that helped raise $164,000 for the disgraced officer.
The security upgrades for Byrds home mentioned previously would set the USCP back $21,000. While the security upgrades were being made, USCP put Byrd up in local hotels and the Distinguished Visitors Quarters at Joint Base Andrews.
He was also provided with a USCP Dignitary Protection Detail when he left the secure base.
USCP instructed Byrd to skip over his Fitness For Duty evaluation after January 6th, 2021 over concerns that he would fail and no longer be permitted to carry his service weapon.
In September 2021, Byrd attempted to buy a shotgun for his own personal protection, however, he failed the background check required under federal law.
After seeking assistance from USCP to resolve the background check issue, they were going to simply issue him a USCP shotgun. However, Byrd failed his shotgun proficiency exam and was ultimately not provided with the firearm.
After being placed on administrative leave following Jan. 6, 2021 and ending June 2021, the USCP signed a telework agreement with Byrd in July 2021, allowing him to telework five days a week.
Still, Byrd did not return to work. Not only was he not disciplined for this, but USCP retroactively put him on Administrative Leave for the days he didnt work in July and August 2021.
If you recall, former USCP Assistant Chief Yogananda Pittman was placed on Administrative Leave so she could reach her retirement time-in-service requirements while she was working as the Chief of Police at the UC Berkeley making $283,000 per year.
Loudermilk ends his letter to Chief Manger by requesting the preservation of all digital records, including emails, text messages, other chat messages, calendars, notes, and files for:
Captain Michael Byrds cell phone, email account, computer, or any other electronic device issued by USCP from January 1, 2021, through January 1, 2024; Copies of all documents prepared by USCP summarizing actions taken by USCP on behalf of then-Lt. Byrd such as the one attached, dated November 18, 2021. Please also indicate the date such documents were shared, the names of the Members or individuals it was shared with, and any digital records such as emails referencing such documents, including drafting and transmittal.
Now-Captain Michael Byrd, according to Rep. Loudermilk, has:
As a result, Byrd has received:
Captain Byrds treatment raises questions about whether it reflects preferential treatment or efforts to ensure his cooperation regarding sensitive matters related to January 6th.
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