NBC announced today that NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt would be sitting down in an exclusive interview with the U.S. Capitol Police Officer recently exonerated in the murder of Ashli Babbitt. “EXCLUSIVE: Lester Holt will sit down for an interview with the U.S. Capitol Police officer responsible for shooting and killing Ashli Babbitt while defending the U.S. House chamber during January 6, 2021, Capitol attack,” announced NBC official PR Twitter account.
The Capitol Police Officer has been kept a mystery in what feels like a historic first. Most officers involved in civilian shootings are identified on the nightly news shortly after.
The press release states Holt’s interview with the anonymous officer “will air Thursday, August 26, during NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt at 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT.”
The interview is expected to highlight this officer’s “perspective on the events” of January 6, “including the aftermath of the deadly insurrection and the threats he has received.” The press release guaranteed that the officer would be “revealing his identity publicly for the first time” and discuss the Capitol Police Department’s decision to clear him of any wrongdoing in the shooting of veteran Ashli Babbitt.
Newsweek reported that the family of Ashli Babbitt’s lawyer, Terry Roberts, believes that the Capitol Police Officer should be held accountable for killing Ashli Babbitt. At the time, he said, “If she committed any crime by going through the window and into the Speaker’s Lobby, it would have been trespassing. Some misdemeanor crime. All a rookie cop would have done is arrest her.”
“What it looks like is this guy shot this lady for no legitimate law enforcement purpose. And you know, they ought to be pretty ashamed of that,” Terry Roberts said. “In a free country like ours, it’s very strange and odd that they wouldn’t identify the officer or even provide some details explaining why he had to kill her.”
Ashli Babbitt’s husband, Aaron Babbitt, runs a Twitter account dedicated to bringing awareness to her life and the circumstances surrounding her death.
He announced, via Twitter, that “Terry Roberts, attorney for the Babbitt family, discusses the unjustified killing of Ashli Babbitt by a USCP Lieutenant, the impending lawsuit, and USCP internal investigation of the police officer.”
Aaron Babbitt also posted a moving tribute to his late veteran wife, saying, “HEROES. Sacrifice is measured by the number of family & friends left behind. The months or years in service Honor is measured by the duty THEY VOLUNTEER for & medals earned. These things are immeasurable. WE OWE A DEBT TO ALL WHO SERVE and pay a price for freedom in this land.”
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