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“After it happened, he came over. He was physically and emotionally distraught. I actually gave him a hug and I said, ‘sir, you did what you had to do.’”
Mullin further asserted that he believed the officer had no malicious intent, framing the use of force as a necessary act of protection rather than an aggressive escalation. He told media outlets that Byrd “didn’t have a choice” and that his shot “saved people’s lives.”
WATCH:
Expanding on his perspective, Mullin stated:
“Sen. Mullin: I guarantee you—I don’t know for a fact, but I guarantee you—he’s never had to pull his weapon in a manner like that before. He was the last person in the world who ever wanted to use force like that; he wasn’t wanting to do that. I know for a fact because, after it happened, he came over and was physically and emotionally distraught, and I actually gave him a hug. And I said, ‘Sir, you did what you had to do.’ And I mean that. Unfortunately, for the young lady, her family’s life has changed. It was an unfortunate situation where she lost her life, and some people lost their loved ones. But the lieutenant’s life has also changed, too, because if it’s the first time you’ve ever had to use lethal force, that doesn’t ever leave you. And it wasn’t his choice; he didn’t show up to work that day to have to do that. He was doing his job, and he got put in a situation where he had to do his job because there was a member still on the balcony.”
A History of Scrutiny
The shooting of Babbitt, an Air Force veteran who was unarmed at the time, has remained a lightning rod for political tension. Critics of the official narrative frequently point to Byrd’s controversial professional history, including the 2019 incident where he left his service weapon in a bathroom at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center and reports regarding his struggles to maintain firearms qualification standards.
While internal investigations ultimately cleared Byrd of wrongdoing, legal challenges persisted. Judicial Watch took up the mantle on behalf of the Babbitt family, filing a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit. The complaint argued that the officer’s actions were unjustified, contending that Babbitt posed no genuine threat to those inside the chamber.
A Concluded Legal Battle
The long-standing pursuit of accountability reached a turning point in May 2025, when the federal government entered into a settlement agreement. The resolution, which provided nearly $5 million to the Babbitt estate, successfully forestalled a jury trial that had been slated for the summer of 2026.
As Mullin prepares for a potential confirmation process to oversee the nation’s homeland security apparatus, this resurfaced footage serves as a reminder of the raw, unresolved emotions surrounding January 6. For voters who view Babbitt as a martyr for her political beliefs, Mullin’s past defense of the man who ended her life presents a significant hurdle that will undoubtedly be a point of intense focus in the days ahead.
