Chuck Schumer Was Not Involved In Ashli Babbitt’s Death
The Claim
Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer is responsible for the shooting of Ashli Babbitt on January 6th.
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On this week’s “Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo” former president Donald Trump called in to discuss his recent lawsuits against big tech, and dropped hints about a 2024 presidential run. Bartiromo also asked him about the January 6th insurrection, and he brought up the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt, who was among five people who died at the event. Bartiromo described Babbitt as “a wonderful woman, fatally shot as she climbed out a window." When she asked Trump what he knew, he said, “I’ve heard that they know who shot Ashli Babbit. The head of security for a certain high official, a Democrat, and we’ll see. It’s gonna come out.”
Their discussion reignited conspiracy theories that had already been simmering on social media. Users speculated that the high official Trump was referring to was Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Misbar’s Analysis
Ashli Babbitt was killed by a U.S. Capitol Police officer who was trying to prevent protesters from entering the Speaker’s Lobby where members of the House of Representatives were seeking safety. The officer is unlikely to have been part of Chuck Schumer’s security detail, as the shooting happened on the House Chamber’s side of the capitol, and Schumer works in the Senate Chamber. Schumer has been an outspoken advocate of a bipartisan commission bill that would further the investigation into the events of January 6th.
The Justice Department announced in April that they would not charge the police officer who shot and killed Babbit. The decision was made after a three-month investigation and was based on video footage, statements from the officer, witnesses from the scene, physical evidence, as well as an autopsy. Republican congressman, Markwayne Mullins, who witnessed the shooting said that the officer “didn’t have a choice.” He added, “His actions may be judged in a lot of different ways moving forward, but his actions I believe saved people's lives even more. Unfortunately, it did take one though."
Trump and Bartiromo’s conversation included several additional false and misleading claims. Video footage shows that Babbitt was not climbing “out a window,” as Bartiromo said, but was attempting to enter the Speaker’s lobby through a window that had been shattered by other rioters. She shouted, “Go, go!” after the window was broken, and two men assisted in lifting her up. Trump also claimed that Babbitt was shot “right in the head,” though video footage, as well as an autopsy, show that she was shot in the shoulder after being asked by the officer to get back and get down.
Five people were killed at the event, and over 140 were injured, including police officers. Therefore it is also inaccurate for Bartiromo to call what happened on January 6th a “peaceful protest.”
Babbitt’s family is currently suing for access to records on the officer who shot her. She was a California-based Air Force veteran, business owner, and enthusiastic Trump supporter.
