Posted on 02/04/2024 12:24:18 PM PST by george76
A watchdog group is escalating its battle with the Justice Department over the FBI’s refusal to turn over files on Ashli Babbitt, the United States Air Force veteran shot and killed during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot over the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory over former President Donald Trump.
Judicial Watch, claiming a “cover-up,” on Friday filed a suit in federal court claiming that the FBI has twice refused to comply with Freedom of Information Act demands for any files it has on Babbitt and her husband Aaron.
The FOIA lawsuit was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.
Judicial Watch is working with Aaron Babbitt, who is the executor of his wife’s estate, to get all the information the government has on the duo and its reports of her shooting death by then-U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd as she attempted to enter the House Speaker’s Lobby unarmed.
They recently joined in filing a $30 million wrongful death suit against the government in the death of the 35-year-old, the only one associated with the riots who died on Jan. 6.
“Judicial Watch and our supporters are honored to represent Ashli’s steadfast widower Aaron Babbitt and her estate in this legal action. Ashli was shot in cold blood, and the rule of law requires justice for her,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in filing the suit on Jan. 4.
In its new FOIA suit, Judicial Watch said that not only has the FBI refused its two demands for files but that the law enforcement agency has also stiff-armed the Justice Department office that advocates FOIA compliance, the Office of Information Policy.
In its four-page filing, the attorney for Aaron Babbitt and Judicial Watch said, “the FBI has failed to produce the requested records or demonstrate that the requested records are lawfully exempt from production; or notify plaintiffs of the scope of any responsive records they intend to produce or withhold and the reasons for any withholdings.”
Fitton said, “Ashli Babbit was the only homicide victim on Jan. 6, yet the FBI has been illicitly hiding its files on Ashli Babbitt from her family for a year. Why the cover-up?”
In the wrongful death suit, a new camera angle of the shooting was provided. The time-stamped video showed an unarmed Babbitt being pushed into the House Speaker’s Lobby as Byrd raises his gun. After he shot, she fell back, bleeding from the shoulder and neck.
According to the suit, “Ashli remained conscious for minutes or longer after being shot by Lt. Byrd. Ashli experienced extreme pain, suffering, mental anguish, and intense fear before slipping into pre-terminal unconsciousness. The autopsy report identified the cause of death as a ‘gunshot wound to left anterior shoulder’ with an onset interval of ‘minutes.’ The fact that Ashli was alive and conscious in extreme pain and suffering is documented in videos of the shooting.”
The suit continues, “Furthermore, nothing about the wound track described in the autopsy report would be expected to result in immediate death or instantaneous loss of consciousness, and Ashli’s lungs contained blood, further confirming that she was alive and breathing after being shot. Ashli was pronounced dead at Washington Hospital Center at 3:15 p.m. The medical examiner determined that the manner of death was homicide.”
Byrd later said he shot Babbitt as a “last resort.” He was subsequently promoted to captain.
That was a massively illegal shoot under all US law and case law in deadly force. If a city cop shot an unarmed person for climbing into a windows at the mayors office, the FBI would prosecute them immediately for civil rights violations and they would be gone for 20 years.
Emotions of “but it’s the Capitol” aside, there is zero legal justification or underpinning for this murder. The Capitol has no deadly force lines like a nuclear bomb facility or a SAC flight line.
Lefties rioted and destroyed America over George Floyd, and celebrated Ashli’s death
“Byrd later said he shot Babbitt as a “last resort.” He was subsequently promoted to captain.”
Did he give a verbal warning? (Required by law if time allows) Did he try to make a physical arrest of the small female? Did he use pepper spray? Did he use a taser? Did he use a baton when she was at a severe disadvantage in that window? (All three required or an explanation of why they were precluded before going to guns)
He skipped the entire REQUIRED use of force continuum and murdered an unarmed woman presenting no threat to him or anyone else.
That low life was promoted to Captain
The FBI offices should be moved to Ukraine, they’d fit right in.
“He skipped the entire REQUIRED use of force continuum and murdered an unarmed woman presenting no threat to him or anyone else.”
And Nancy Pelosi promoted the bastard.
5.56mm
“The FBI offices should be moved to Ukraine, they’d fit right in.”
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
And the FSB offices should be moved to specific pro-russian areas in the USA? hm? They might fit right in...
The Hanoi-Jane syndrome in America is still alive, in a few places...
I hope both Pelosi and that murderer are both rapidly promoted to room temp, by natural causes, of course.
Not much in D.C. the last three years that hasn’t been a cover-up.
Democrat democracy is a killer.
I wish them the most painful death possible.
Long and painful.
Tom Fitton fighting the good fight yet again.
Why do these FedGov murderers always walk ? Ashley’s killer? Lon Horiuchi? The pricks that gunned down Lavoy? Koresh’s incinerators?
Sorry, but they are creating their own reputations . Wish it were not so....but it is.
The “Republicans” in Congress could get the FBI to comply but they DON’T WANT TO.....
All they have to do is NOT FUND THE FBI until they comply.
But I’m sure that there are files on everyone that is in congress and can fabricate and legally bankrupt you if you mess with the FBI.
The entire mess was planned, funded, commanded, and controlled, by corrupt politicians of both parties and agencies under their control. That also includes their pipe-bomber asset that is a contractor, after a long military career. Investigators were banned from interviewing him after he was found on cameras and his vehicle traced.
Our federal government stinks to high heaven in this plot.
Riot is far to strong a word for this mostly peaceful protest.
And this occurred when it seems all these stories of rogue cops going on, but yet this is the cop that get a pass and no one was outraged. Where’s that Crump attorney representing Ashli Babbitt’s family? Oh yeah she wasn’t black, and the Officer Byrd was black.
Ashli Babbit, SAY HER NAME!
Ashli was murdered in cold blood by that bastard POS Lt Byrd.
That MF’r needs to spend the rest of his miserable life in prison
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