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2024-12-06 Government Corruption
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Capitol Police union boss decries special treatment for officer who killed unarmed J6 protester
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[JustTheNews] The union's statements come after reports that the officer who fatally shot Ashli Babbitt received special financial support from police leadership under pressure from Democrats.
The U.S. Capitol Police union leader is calling out the department for providing special financial and other benefits to Capt. Michael Byrd, the officer who fatally shot Jan. 6 protestor Ashli Babbitt, that were not given to fellow officers.
“What a slap in the face to the rank and file officers of the USCP, especially all who were on duty on J6,” U.S. Capitol Police union Chairman Gus Papathanasiou said in a statement Thursday to Just the News.
Just the News reported Wednesday that House Democratic leadership pressured the Capitol Police to provide financial and other assistance to then-Lt. Michael Byrd after the shooting that included a $37,000 retention bonus, help with $160,000 in private fundraising, housing, and a promotion to captain.
This assistance far surpassed the support given to other officers who were serving on the Capitol grounds that day.
Papathanasiou demanded that Byrd be forced to repay the amounts he was given that exceeded bonuses for other officers who served on Jan. 6, 2021, or that the department provide the same benefits to all.
"Not sure what makes Mike Byrd so special that he thinks he needed to be 'taken care of' by the Department. USCP should give every officer a $37k bonus or have Mike Byrd pay it all back," the union boss said.
A lawyer for Byrd and a spokesman for Capitol Police did not return messages seeking comment.
Internal communications reviewed by Just the News show that Byrd was unsatisfied with the generous assistance and worked with at least one Democratic representative to secure even more benefits, specifically from a memorial fund dedicated to providing help to wounded officers.
"We play the game as you request and then once we’re in compliance You guys change the rules on us,” Byrd wrote to U.S. Capitol Police General Counsel Thomas DiBiase in November 2021 after being informed he wouldn't be able to immediately access charitable funds from the memorial fund.
Byrd, who was promoted to captain in 2023, has also stirred controversy because of his lengthy disciplinary record including gun incidents like firing on a stolen vehicle in a residential neighborhood while off duty and a suspension for leaving his weapon unattended in a public restroom.
Union head: "what else is the USCP covering up?"
According to Chairman Barry Loudermilk of the House Administration Oversight Subcommittee, whose committee has led the charge in investigating the Capitol Police and the many security failures on January 6, said that there are at least three further referrals to the Office of Professional Responsibility, but that the records are missing.
Loudermilk called the political influence on the Capitol Police to treat Byrd favorably “highly inappropriate” in an interview on the "Just the News, No Noise" TV show. He said the thing that bothers him the most about the Byrd saga is the “lack of transparency and the political meddling that that was going on.”
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Posted by Skidmark 2024-12-06 07:29||
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Posted by Super Hose 2024-12-06 13:22||
2024-12-06 13:22||
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