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House Democrats exerted pressure on the U.S. Capitol Police to offer special financial assistance and even a promotion to the officer who fatally shot unarmed protester Ashli Babbitt during the January 6 riot, according to memos seen by Just the News.
The memos reveal that the pressure led to the exclusive allocation of tens of thousands of dollars in taxpayer and charitable assistance to the officer, then-Lt. Michael Byrd, without any similar support for other officers.
“He is very upset about how he is being treated. He wants us to figure this out and now,” a top congressional aide to then-House Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, wrote to Capitol Police in November 2021 demanding more assistance to Byrd.
The records indicate that pressure also originated from then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s staff and then-Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, leading the Capitol Police to pursue any available solutions to satisfy Byrd and Democratic leaders. According to congressional records, despite the substantial assistance, Byrd remained dissatisfied and continued to demand more, much to the frustration of Capitol Police officials.
“We play the game as you request and then once we comply You guys change the rules on us,” Byrd wrote to U.S. Capitol Police General Counsel Thomas DiBiase in November 2021 after he was told that he could not immediately gain access to money from a memorial fund dedicated to fallen or wounded officers.
The outlet noted further:
Later, the department’s chief informed Byrd that the memorial fund would not offer any further assistance, but Capitol Police instead assisted in setting up a GoFundMe, which successfully raised more than $160,000 for Byrd. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D- Calif., was one of the many progressives who donated to and promoted the fundraising.
The revelations were uncovered during probe by Chairman Barry Loudermilk’s House Administration Oversight Subcommittee into the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) and follow findings that Byrd has a significant disciplinary record that resulted in six referrals to the USCP’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
At least one of these incidents resulted in a referral to a prosecutor and others ended with temporary suspensions, Just the News reported earlier this month.
“In addition to USCP’s decision to promote Byrd despite his disciplinary history, I also have concerns about the decisions USCP made concerning Byrd after January 6, 2021,” Loudermilk noted in a letter to current USCP Chief Thomas Manger.
Loudermilk stated on the “Just the News, No Noise” TV show that it is understandable for House Democratic leadership to want to ensure Byrd was well supported, considering he was involved in a fatal incident. However, he emphasized that their requests for assistance for the then-lieutenant exceeded what was typically provided to other officers.
“[They] went to extremes, to where they gave bonuses to officers who are on the front line of the battle, that was a few thousand dollars—Byrd gets one of $37,000 okay, it’s not equally played,” Loudermilk said.
“I think people should really be considering the earlier question, which is whether he should have been on the force,” the chairman said, a reference to the now-captain’s lengthy disciplinary record.
The committee’s investigation revealed that the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) made extraordinary efforts to promote Byrd and provide him with financial support that significantly exceeded what other officers present on January 6 received. This included attempts to use a memorial fund designated for wounded officers to compensate Byrd.
Internal USCP emails obtained by Loudermilk’s subcommittee and reviewed by Just the News show that the police department offered substantial benefits to Byrd following the shooting. These benefits included housing, enhanced security protection due to threats against his life, and extensive efforts to promote then-Lieutenant Byrd to the rank of captain.
Additionally, the emails indicate that House Democratic leadership, including the office of then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi and then-Rep. Ryan, collaborated closely with the Capitol Police to secure these benefits for Byrd.
At the time, Byrd was refusing to return to work and was seeking financial assistance to support his family, Just the News added.
