As Republicans continue portraying domestic terrorist Ashli Babbitt as a martyr, an internal investigation conducted by the Capitol Police’s Office of Personal Responsibility has formally exonerated the officer who shot and killed her on January 6th.

Babbitt, along with thousands of other supporters of disgraced Florida retiree Donald Trump, stormed the Capitol that day in an attempt to overthrow democracy and assassinate lawmakers. As lawmakers were being evacuated from the House floor, Babbitt attempted to push her way into the chamber and was shot to prevent her and others from potentially doing harm to them.

The insurrectionists brutally assaulted police officers, broke into offices, and stole or damaged property in their desperate attempt to overturn the 2020 Election results and install Trump as a dictator. Babbitt’s family should be especially ashamed of her participation since she was a former Air Force veteran who swore an oath to defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic.

Back in April, the Department of Justice declined to prosecute the officer who shot this domestic enemy, citing “insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution.”

“Specifically, the investigation revealed no evidence to establish that, at the time the officer fired a single shot at Ms. Babbitt, the officer did not reasonably believe that it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber,” the DOJ reported. “As members of the mob continued to strike the glass doors, Ms. Babbitt attempted to climb through one of the doors where glass was broken out. An officer inside the Speaker’s Lobby fired one round from his service pistol, striking Ms. Babbitt in the left shoulder, causing her to fall back from the doorway and onto the floor.”

Republicans have been demanding the identity of the officer ever since, most likely so they can target the officer or incite violence against the officer and his family. That’s why the officer has not been identified. And now the officer has been exonerated by an internal investigation of the shooting via a memo stating that “no further action will be taken in this matter.”

This should bring an end to the Republican demonization of this brave officer who did a service to the country. Had Trump not incited his supporters to storm the Capitol, Babbitt would still be alive. By all rights, he should be the one held legally responsible for her death.

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