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.
