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.
What Russia did concerning the 2016 election was the usual propaganda stuff using social networks, false accounts, and so on. Trump himself sanctioned Russia for this. Russia did try to influence the election, yes.
However, that has nothing to do with Trump. Tump is evidently not a “Russian asset” as some democrats later tried to construct a narrative around.
The Steel Dossier is a horrible and deeply vicious scandal, launched by the Democrats.
And still no arrests.... Sad.
When am I gonna get MY riot??
If I were a BLACK woman and a WHITE cop had killed me...
She was murdered, and the FBI is covering it up, IMO.
4. It was a totally unnecessary shooting, thus being a prosecutable crime, at least “criminally neglect behavior”.
I agree, people forget Rosanne, suffered a horrible death.
likely just doing as he was told to, since Pelosi and others had their plan in place and letting it play out for maximum effect.
39. Why was Byrd given a promotion for killing an unarmed protestor?
Pelosi’s way of insuring that Byrd doesn’t talk.
This woman is the personalization of EVIL.
We need the truth and justice for the murder of Ashley.
Does the US Attorney General have to actually BE an attorney? (A SCOTUS doesn’t.) If not, then Tom Fitton should be Trump’s first choice for AG.
Goes nowhere unless Trump gets in.
Same guy who left his gun in the Capitol Crapper.
https://rollcall.com/2019/02/27/capitol-police-weapon-left-unattended-in-capitol-bathroom-again/
Ashli’s family are Fighting to
Correct This...
Amen
“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.
All supported by former Representative - and now Senator - tough guy Markwayne Mullin:
"When they broke the glass in the back, the (police) lieutenant that was there, him and I already had multiple conversations prior to this, and he didn't have a choice at that time," Mullin said. "The mob was going to come through the door, there was a lot of members and staff that were in danger at the time. And when he [drew] his weapon, that's a decision that's very hard for anyone to make and, once you draw your weapon like that, you have to defend yourself with deadly force."
- https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/2020-election-results-transition?id=75022086&offset=78
The now-Senator Mullin has had other head-to-head encounters with visitors during the course of Capitol business, e.g., when he stood up to challenge a union leader to a fight during a Senate hearing last November:
"You want to run your mouth, we can be two consenting adults, we can finish it here."
- https://www.help.senate.gov/hearings/standing-up-against-corporate-greed-how-unions-are-improving-the-lives-of-working-families
Question for Senator Mullin: What, exactly, did you say to officer Byrd before he shot Ashlii Babbitt?
It was also a message to capitol police that killing conservative protesters is acceptable - might even get you a promotion.
You’re right - evil.
shame how the event has to take this long to prosecute whenw e all know what happened and its criminal
The most peaceful riot in history.
WACO, Dennis Weaver’s wife and child, LaVoy Finicum, the FBI
is a criminal organization with a long reputation for covering up for murderers.
Peking would be more appropriate
Fighting?
Are they bringing a knife to a gun fight??
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