The Capitol Police officer who fatally shot unarmed January 6th protester Ashli Babbitt received a promotion and other favors after lobbying from House Democrats including Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca.), according to a bombshell report. 

Michael Byrd received thousands of dollars in financial assistance, security enhancements to his home and a promotion to captain, despite a history of problems with firearms, Just the News reported.

The information was uncovered in emails obtained by Republican Barry Loudermilk (Ga.), who chairs the House Administration Oversight Subcommittee.

Favors for Babbitt's killer

While Democrats embraced Capitol Police as heroes after January 6th, they devoted special attention to Byrd, who faced backlash and threats for killing Babbitt, an unarmed Air Force veteran.

At a July 2021 meeting with then-Speaker Pelosi's staff, Capitol Police discussed helping Byrd with closing costs on a new home, compensating Byrd with a memorial fund for wounded officers and promoting him to captain. Only one vacancy was open for a captain, and Byrd was ranked second on the list.

Capitol Police considered creating an additional captain role just for Byrd but decided not to move forward with the idea. Still, he was eventually promoted to captain in 2023.

For six months, Capitol Police paid for Byrd's housing at hotels and a military base and provided an extensive security detail. On one occasion, he was escorted to a cigar lounge where he stayed out until 1:30 a.m.

Capitol Police also paid for over $21,000 in security upgrades to his new home and attempted to get Byrd a department-provided shotgun after he failed a background check. He failed the training and never received the gun.

"Disappointed" with financial help

Despite the generous treatment he received, Byrd complained to Capitol Police about being "lumped in" with dozens of injured cops seeking money from the memorial fund.

"He is very upset about how he is being treated. He wants us to figure this out and now," a top staffer for Democrat Tim Ryan (Oh.) told Capitol Police in November 2021 email.

Capitol Police were surprised by Byrd's reaction, since Byrd was offered a $37,000 retention bonus, which was more than the $3,000 given to other cops who were on duty on January 6th.

To satisfy Byrd, Capitol Police helped him set up a private GoFundMe page that raised $160,000. Byrd was unhappy when Capitol Police decided not to compensate him from the memorial fund.

"Ok, thank you, MOC [Members of Congress] have said differently. I will address on my own," he wrote. "USCP will not look good as a result."

History of incidents

The favorable treatment Byrd received came despite numerous complaints about his handling of firearms both on and off duty, including an incident where he fired his gun at a stolen vehicle that was fleeing his residential neighborhood.

Capitol Police also suspended Byrd, who is black, for a racially charged outburst at a Maryland cop that was ruled "unbecoming of an officer."

Byrd was cleared of any wrongdoing in the shooting of Babbitt, who was unarmed when Byrd killed her as she climbed through a broken glass window outside the Speaker's Lobby. Her family is pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against Capitol Police.

“Lt. Byrd later confessed that he shot Ashli before seeing her hands or assessing her intentions or even identifying her as female," the lawsuit states.