The Killing of Ashli Babbitt...

There are all together, too many unanswered questions regarding the events of yesterday at our nation’s capitol. It was an event that was known about and publicized well in advance. No one, in Washington D.C. or anyone at the Capitol Police force should have been surprised or caught off guard. And yet, a U.S. Capitol Police employee saw fit to fire a loaded weapon into the crowd killing Ashli Babbitt.

We don’t know of the circumstances or situation that the U.S. Capitol Police employee found himself in. We don’t know why the U.S. Capitol Police employee felt so endangered as to need to draw and fire his service weapon at the crowd. Hopefully, these types of questions will be answered during the joint investigation with the Metropolitan Police Department.

“The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol was unlike any I have ever experienced in my 30 years in law enforcement here in Washington, D.C.,” Sund said. “Maintaining public safety in an open environment—specifically for First Amendment activities—has long been a challenge. The USCP had a robust plan established to address anticipated First Amendment activities. But make no mistake—these mass riots were not First Amendment activities; they were criminal riotous behavior. The actions of the USCP officers were heroic given the situation they faced, and I continue to have tremendous respect in the professionalism and dedication of the women and men of the United States Capitol Police.” - Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund.

Apparently, Chief Sund, with his 30 years of law enforcement in Washington D.C. is unaware or ignorant of the history of violence and attacks against the U.S. Capitol. Beginning in 1812 there have been six previous attacks on the U.S. Capitol. The sudden rush to characterized yesterday’s actions as unprecedented or unique by all forms of media is simply disingenuous.

#uscapitol #ashlibabbitt #capitolpolice