Former President Donald Trump honored Ashli Babbitt in a video that he sent to her family on her birthday, Breitbart reported.
Babbitt was shot and killed by Capitol Police officer Michael Byrd on Jan. 6, when she attended the protest in Washington, D.C.
In his message, the former president expressed his condolences for the deceased woman, honoring her for her service in the U.S. Air Force.
“To Ashli’s family and friends, please know that her memory will live on in our hearts for all time,” Trump said.
“Ashli served our country in the United States Air Force for 14 years, where she was a security forces airman and eventually went on to achieve the rank of senior airman,” he continued. “She defended our nation overseas including in Iraq to fight in the war on terror.”
“On that horrible day of Jan. 6, Ashli arrived at the United States Capitol,” he continued. “She was shot and tragically killed. Today would’ve been her birthday. Happy birthday, Ashli.”
Byrd—whose identity was long concealed by officials, later came forward, saying he considered her to be “a threat” to the elected leaders still present at the Capitol.
“I had been yelling and screaming as loud as I was, ‘Please stop. Get back. Get back. Stop.’ We had our weapons drawn,” the officer claimed, although video evidence appears to contradict that assertion.
Byrd claimed to have taken “a tactical stance,” suggesting that Babbit had not complied with his orders.
It is unclear also that there were any members of Congress in the immediate area that he was guarding at the time.
The Capitol Police have cleared Byrd after launching a brief internal investigation.
He later claimed that he saved “countless lives” by shooting Babbit.
Trump concluded his message by suggesting that a more thorough investigation should be launched by the Department of Justice.
“There was no reason Ashli should’ve lost her life that day,” Trump said.
“We must all demand justice for Ashli and her family,” he continued. “So on this solemn occasion… we renew our call for a fair and nonpartisan investigation into the death of Ashli Babbitt. I offer my unwavering support to Ashli’s family and call on the Department of Justice to reopen its investigation into her death on Jan. 6.”
