Reuters reporter Brad Heath posted the denial he received to twitter, noting that the “DOJ won't release its memo declining to bring charges in the shooting of Ashli Babbitt during the Capitol siege, citing basically every possible reason.”
Earlier this month, Babbitt’s family filed suit seeking records along with footage of the shooting and witness statements.
“The family of Ashli Babbitt, the woman who was shot and killed by Capitol Police during the Jan. 6 riot, is seeking the records of the officer who shot her after federal prosecutors said charges would not be brought against him.
A lawsuit, which was filed last week in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, seeks the officer's records, footage of the shooting, and documents and witness statements the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) got during its investigation, CNBC reported on Tuesday...
The U.S. attorney's office in Washington, D.C., said in April that no charges would be filed against the officer.
"Specifically, the investigation revealed no evidence to establish that, at the time the officer fired a single shot at Ms. Babbitt, the officer did not reasonably believe that it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber," the statement said. "Acknowledging the tragic loss of life and offering condolences to Ms. Babbitt’s family, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and U.S. Department of Justice have therefore closed the investigation into this matter.""
Babbitt family Attorney Terry Roberts tells WUSA-TV, the shooting was an “obvious case of excessive force”, adding that “she could have easily been stopped by the officer who shot her or numerous other officers who were around and been arrested, if that's what they wanted to do. There was no need to shoot her. Any rookie police officer with a set of handcuffs could have taken her into custody. She's an Air Force veteran. She was actually a military police officer herself. I am sure that she would have complied.”