Donald Trump Sends Personalized Video Message to Ashli Babbitt’s Family on Her Birthday: ‘We Must All Demand Justice for Ashli’
Former President Donald Trump sent a personalized video message to the family of Ashli Babbitt, the 35-year-old veteran killed by a Capitol Police officer during the Jan. 6 riot.
Babbitt would have turned 36 this weekend, and her family decided to host a celebration in her honor.
According to a broadcast on Twitter shared by journalist Ford Fischer, the event was held in Freeport, TX, where family and friends of Babbitt came together to commemorate her life.
For the event, Trump sent a video message in which he called Babbitt “a truly incredible person.” His remarks were captured in a video posted on Twitter by Ron Filipkowski.
“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. She defended our nation overseas including in Iraq to fight in the war on terror.”
“On that horrible day of January 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.”
Trump went on to say that he has spoken to Babbitt’s husband and mother, and called for the investigation of her death to be reopened. The Justice Department closed the close in April, saying they would not criminally prosecute the officer who shot her due to “insufficient evidence.”
The Capitol Police officer, Michael Byrd, later publicly came forward and said he fired his gun as a “last resort.”
“There was no reason Ashli should’ve lost her life that day,” Trump said. “We must all demand justice for Ashli and her family. So on this solemn occasion as we celebrate her life, 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.”
Watch above, via Twitter. (Hat tip: Ron Filipkowski)
