{"id":2396425,"date":"2025-01-29T08:30:02","date_gmt":"2025-01-29T13:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-jan-6-focus-will-trump-defend-ashli-babbitts-shooter-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T08:30:28","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T13:30:28","slug":"new-jan-6-focus-will-trump-defend-ashli-babbitts-shooter-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-jan-6-focus-will-trump-defend-ashli-babbitts-shooter-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"New Jan. 6 focus: Will Trump defend Ashli Babbitt\u2019s shooter? &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">26<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-jan-6-focus-will-trump-defend-ashli-babbitts-shooter-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2396425&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the legal and political \u2063implications following President Donald Trump&#8217;s recent pardon of individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riots and whether he will continue the \u2062Biden management&#8217;s defense of the officer who shot and\u2062 killed protester Ashli\u2062 Babbitt. A $30 million wrongful death \u200dlawsuit claims that the U.S. Capitol Police officer, Michael Byrd, was inadequately trained and had a\u200c history of disciplinary issues. While the Justice Department\u200d previously defended Byrd, ther are\u2062 concerns about how to reconcile this position\u2064 wiht Trump&#8217;s pardons. House Republicans are \u2063investigating Byrd&#8217;s\u2063 conduct, calling for accountability, with some\u2063 advocating for\u200d murder charges against him. A related hearing has been postponed until late February, and the trial \u200cis scheduled for next\u2064 year. \u200bThe situation poses a complex challenge for \u2062the new administration as it navigates these legal troubles while dealing with ongoing scrutiny regarding\u200d the events of \u200bjanuary 6.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">New Jan. 6 focus: Will Trump defend Ashli Babbitt&rsquo;s shooter?<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1957709\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A week after President <a href=\"https:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Donald Trump\">Donald Trump<\/a> pardoned those charged in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/january-6\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Jan. 6\">Jan. 6<\/a> Capitol riots, his administration is facing a new and related question: Will he continue the Biden administration&rsquo;s defense of the officer who killed protester Ashli Babbitt?<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>At issue is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3111210\/ashli-babbitt-30-million-wrongful-death-suit-first-hearing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">$30 million wrongful death lawsuit<\/a> against the government that hinges on claims and evidence that the shooter, a U.S. Capitol Police officer, was inadequately trained and had a record of disciplinary problems.<\/p>\n<p>While Joe Biden was president, the Justice Department stood for Capitol Police Capt. Michael Byrd in the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>After Trump&rsquo;s inauguration last week, he pardoned the rioters, including those who were with Babbitt when she was shot and killed after being pushed into the Speaker&rsquo;s Lobby behind the House floor.<\/p>\n<p>That appears to put the Justice Department in a pickle: How does it turn away from its hundreds of cases and convictions but move forward in defending the shooting of Babbitt?<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I can&rsquo;t imagine that President Trump would want to defend this for one minute,&rdquo; said Tom Fitton, the president of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/3252157\/mtg-wants-murder-charges-for-officer-who-shot-ashli-babbitt\/\" title=\"\">Judicial Watch<\/a>, which filed the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"JANUARY 6 FLASHBACK: Michael Byrd&rsquo;s Disturbing History of Misconduct!\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3YU7BZYXzHI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The White House and Justice Department have not said what they plan to do.<\/p>\n<p>This week, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-delays-trial-for-suspect-in-trump-assassination-attempt-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Judge delays trial for suspect in Trump assassination attempt - Washington Examiner\">federal judge postponed<\/a> a related hearing in the case until late February at the earliest. The full trial of the lawsuit is expected to begin next year.<\/p>\n<p>While the Justice Department and the FBI conducted a four-year dragnet to identify and charge virtually anybody who was at the Capitol on Jan. 6, it did not target Byrd, who appeared in a doorway and shot the unarmed Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran, without warning.<\/p>\n<p>He was protected and promoted by the Capitol Police, which cleared him of any wrongdoing in an internal investigation.<\/p>\n<p>That, however, has not stopped House Republicans from conducting their own investigation, and they have produced a long list of training and disciplinary problems that they want raised at a hearing on the case.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SEE THE LATEST POLITICAL NEWS AND BUZZ FROM WASHINGTON SECRETS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has called for Byrd to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/3252157\/mtg-wants-murder-charges-for-officer-who-shot-ashli-babbitt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/3-teens-charged-in-deadly-2020-house-fire-in-denver\/\" title=\"3 teens charged in deadly 2020 house fire in Denver\">face murder charges<\/a><\/a>. She is influential in Trump&rsquo;s orbit and could affect how his administration addresses the lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I would hope that our new incoming attorney general, who I like a lot &mdash; I like Pam Bondi a lot &mdash; I hope that she looks into it and would consider murder charges, some sort of charges. At least,&rdquo; Greene told Secrets.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1957709\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1957709\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New focus: Will Trump support Ashli Babbitt&#8217;s shooter?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2647,"featured_media":2396426,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Babbitt-Trial-Trump-1024x1024.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[37255,36978,3634,32076],"class_list":["post-2396425","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ashli-babbitt","tag-january-6","tag-trump","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Babbitt-Trial-Trump-1024x1024.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396425","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2647"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2396425"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396425\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2396429,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2396425\/revisions\/2396429"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2396426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2396425"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2396425"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2396425"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}