Capitol Police officer who killed Ashli Babbitt on Jan. 6 breaks his silence

based on Uh last 202 days of your life, what would you uh task this committee uh in its body of work? What would you like to see us do? And so the time the place and the circumstances of that rally, that rhetoric and those events to me, leads in the direction of our president and other members. Not only of Congress in the Senate, but that is what I'm looking for is an investigation into those actions and activities Which may have resulted in the events of January six. And also whether or not there was collaboration between those members, their staff and these terrorists, I need you guys to address If anyone in power had a role in this. If anyone in power coordinated, were aided or abetted or tried to downplay, tried to prevent the investigation of this terrorist attack, because we can't do it, we're not allowed to as for officers, We would do January six all over again. We wouldn't stay home because we knew it was going to happen. We would show up. That's courageous. That's heroic. So what I asked from you all is to get to the bottom of what happened, and that includes, like I echo the sentiments of all the other officers sitting here. I use an analogy to describe what I want is a hit man. If a hit man is hired and he kills somebody, hit man goes to jail, but not only does the hitman go to jail, but the person who hired them does There was an attack carried out on January six and I hit man sent them. I want you to get to the bottom of that. Thank you. Without objection. The committee stands to join. based on Uh last 202 days of your life, what would you uh task this committee uh in its body of work? What would you like to see us do? And so the time the place and the circumstances of that rally, that rhetoric and those events to me, leads in the direction of our president and other members. Not only of Congress in the Senate, but that is what I'm looking for is an investigation into those actions and activities Which may have resulted in the events of January six. And also whether or not there was collaboration between those members, their staff and these terrorists, I need you guys to address If anyone in power had a role in this. If anyone in power coordinated, were aided or abetted or tried to downplay, tried to prevent the investigation of this terrorist attack, because we can't do it, we're not allowed to as for officers, We would do January six all over again. We wouldn't stay home because we knew it was going to happen. We would show up. That's courageous. That's heroic. So what I asked from you all is to get to the bottom of what happened, and that includes, like I echo the sentiments of all the other officers sitting here. I use an analogy to describe what I want is a hit man. If a hit man is hired and he kills somebody, hit man goes to jail, but not only does the hitman go to jail, but the person who hired them does There was an attack carried out on January six and I hit man sent them. I want you to get to the bottom of that. Thank you. Without objection. The committee stands to join.

Video above: Capitol Hill officers demand action in riot hearingThe veteran U.S. Capitol Police officer who killed Ashli Babbitt went public Thursday, revealing his identity and defending his actions on Jan. 6."I know that day I saved countless lives," Lt. Michael Byrd said in an interview with "NBC Nightly News." "I know members of Congress, as well as my fellow officers and staff, were in jeopardy and in serious danger. And that's my job."The officer fatally shot Babbitt in the shoulder while she climbed through a window that led into the Speaker's Lobby, adjacent to the House chamber, while lawmakers were evacuating."I tried to wait as long as I could," Byrd said of the incident in the doorway. "I hoped and prayed no one tried to enter through those doors. But their failure to comply required me to take the appropriate action to save the lives of members of Congress and myself and my fellow officers."The Justice Department said in April that Byrd wouldn't be criminally charged in connection with Babbitt's death, and the U.S. Capitol Police said last week that he wouldn't face any internal discipline. He could still face civil litigation from Babbitt's family, which has threatened a lawsuit.A Washington native who has been in law enforcement for 28 years, Byrd said he followed his training and repeatedly yelled at the mob, telling them to stop their advance toward the House chamber.He said he was "taking a tactical stance" with his gun drawn while the mob approached. "You're ultimately hoping that your commands would be complied with. Unfortunately, they were not."'I just want the truth to be told' Former President Donald Trump said Babbitt, a QAnon supporter and Air Force veteran, was an "innocent, wonderful, incredible woman." During a Fox News interview, Trump also falsely accused the officer of shooting Babbitt in the head. Republican lawmakers also peddled misleading claims about the incident, claiming Byrd was "lying in wait" to kill Babbitt and "executed" her in cold blood.In the interview with "NBC Nightly News," Byrd said Trump's comments were "disheartening," and denied that he acted out of political animus. He protected Trump during his presidency when he visited the Capitol."I hope they understand I did my job," Byrd said of the Republicans who've criticized him. "There was imminent threat and danger to the members of Congress. I just want the truth to be told."Many of the conspiracies have been fueled by the lack of transparency from Capitol Police and the investigators who reviewed the incident. Byrd spoke out on his own accord and has never been named by any government entity, even though it's common in many jurisdictions for police departments to publicly release the names of officers who are involved in fatal shootings.Uncertainty about Byrd's identity created a new rallying cry — "who shot Ashli Babbitt?" — which Trump has brought up at recent rallies. Byrd's name has been floating around right-wing websites, and he said in the at-times emotional interview Thursday that he and his family have received death threats, including racist threats."They talked about killing me, cutting off my head," said Byrd.In interviews with CNN earlier this year, Babbitt's family said she was "patriotic" and was at the Capitol to "express her First Amendment right and to answer the call of a still-sitting president."The family says it's considering a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Byrd, and they've already filed a civil lawsuit seeking records and other information from the police about the incident.Their lawyer, Terry Roberts, said in an interview with Zenger News that he believed Byrd was unfit to serve or carry a gun in the Capitol. He also condemned the U.S. Capitol Police for never publicly naming Byrd, which he claimed, without evidence, was kept secret because Byrd is Black."The U.S. Congress wants to protect this man. He's got friends in high places and they want to protect him," Roberts said in the interview. "And they've done a pretty good job of it. ... I don't think it's a proud moment for the U.S. Capitol Police or the U.S. Congress."

Video above: Capitol Hill officers demand action in riot hearing

The veteran U.S. Capitol Police officer who killed Ashli Babbitt went public Thursday, revealing his identity and defending his actions on Jan. 6.

"I know that day I saved countless lives," Lt. Michael Byrd said in an interview with "NBC Nightly News." "I know members of Congress, as well as my fellow officers and staff, were in jeopardy and in serious danger. And that's my job."

The officer fatally shot Babbitt in the shoulder while she climbed through a window that led into the Speaker's Lobby, adjacent to the House chamber, while lawmakers were evacuating.

"I tried to wait as long as I could," Byrd said of the incident in the doorway. "I hoped and prayed no one tried to enter through those doors. But their failure to comply required me to take the appropriate action to save the lives of members of Congress and myself and my fellow officers."

The Justice Department said in April that Byrd wouldn't be criminally charged in connection with Babbitt's death, and the U.S. Capitol Police said that he wouldn't face any internal discipline. He could still face civil litigation from Babbitt's family, which has a lawsuit.

A Washington native who has been in law enforcement for 28 years, Byrd said he followed his training and repeatedly yelled at the mob, telling them to stop their advance toward the House chamber.

He said he was "taking a tactical stance" with his gun drawn while the mob approached. "You're ultimately hoping that your commands would be complied with. Unfortunately, they were not."

'I just want the truth to be told'

Former President Donald Trump said Babbitt, a QAnon supporter and Air Force veteran, was an "innocent, wonderful, incredible woman." During a , Trump also falsely accused the officer of shooting Babbitt in the head. Republican lawmakers also about the incident, claiming Byrd was "lying in wait" to kill Babbitt and "executed" her in cold blood.

In the interview with "NBC Nightly News," Byrd said Trump's comments were "disheartening," and denied that he acted out of political animus. He protected Trump during his presidency when he visited the Capitol.

"I hope they understand I did my job," Byrd said of the Republicans who've criticized him. "There was imminent threat and danger to the members of Congress. I just want the truth to be told."

Many of the conspiracies have been fueled by the lack of transparency from Capitol Police and the investigators who reviewed the incident. Byrd spoke out on his own accord and has never been named by any government entity, even though it's common in many jurisdictions for police departments to publicly release the names of officers who are involved in fatal shootings.

Uncertainty about Byrd's identity created a new rallying cry — "who shot Ashli Babbitt?" — which Trump has brought up at recent rallies. Byrd's name has been floating around right-wing websites, and he said in the at-times emotional interview Thursday that he and his family have received death threats, including racist threats.

"They talked about killing me, cutting off my head," said Byrd.

earlier this year, Babbitt's family said she was "patriotic" and was at the Capitol to "express her First Amendment right and to answer the call of a still-sitting president."

The family says it's considering a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Byrd, and they've already filed a civil lawsuit seeking records and other information from the police about the incident.

Their lawyer, Terry Roberts, said in an interview with that he believed Byrd was unfit to serve or carry a gun in the Capitol. He also condemned the U.S. Capitol Police for never publicly naming Byrd, which he claimed, without evidence, was kept secret because Byrd is Black.

"The U.S. Congress wants to protect this man. He's got friends in high places and they want to protect him," Roberts said in the interview. "And they've done a pretty good job of it. ... I don't think it's a proud moment for the U.S. Capitol Police or the U.S. Congress."

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