Micki Witthoeft
Micki Witthoeft is an American who first rose to prominence after her daughter, Ashli Babbitt, was killed during the January 6, 2020 insurrection.[1] Her daughter was an insurrectionist, and Donald Trump supporter, who ignored warnings from Capital Police officers to stop trying to break into the portion of the Capital building where they were trying to protect Congressional legislators and staff. Although an inquiry confirmed her daughter's shooting was lawful and justified, she has protested the shooting, even calling for the lynching of the officer who shot her daughter.[2]
Witthoeft has been arrested multiple times.[1]
Her January 2023 arrest was due to participating in a demonstration even after Police told demonstrators they lacked the appropriate license.[1]
In May 2023, there was a confrontation between protesters outside a prison that contained convicted insurrectionist.[3] Brianne Chapman, a member of a group that supported prosecuting insurrectionists, using a megaphone, called Witthoeft a "domestic terrorist". Witthoeft reacted violently. News footage shows Witthoeft striking Chapman and breaking her megaphone. This lead to her arrest. She was held for a few hours, and, after her release, she confirmed she did strike Chapman.
Witthoeft had a citation to appear in court, and was told there that the prosecution decided not to charge her with assault.[4]
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy met with Witthoieft on March 23, 2023.[5] The meeting came one day prior to a tour scheduled by other Republican legislators of the jail where suspected insurrectionists were being held.[6]
Witthoeft has gone on record calling for the lynching of former house speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Larry Bird, the police officer who shot her daughter.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kelly Rissman (2023-09-04). "Ashli Babbitt’s mother makes death threat against officer who shot daughter on Jan 6 and Nancy Pelosi". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2024-01-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20240116203605/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/ashli-babbitt-mother-hanging-pelosi-b2404673.html. Retrieved 2024-03-17. "Micki Witthoeft has been arrested twice this year connected to her involvement with protests."
- ↑ Jordan Fischer (2021-04-14). "No charges for officer who shot Ashli Babbitt during Capitol riot". WUSA-TV (Washington DC). Archived from the original on 2021-04-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414180448/https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/national/capitol-riots/no-charges-for-officer-who-shot-ashli-babbitt-during-capitol-riot-woman-shot-at-capitol-pro-trump/65-ebba86aa-60d5-4fd0-aa5c-28e6b21dcb4a. Retrieved 2024-03-17. "'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 Justice Department said in a statement Wednesday."
- ↑ Harriet Alexander (2023-05-31). "Grieving mother of Jan 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt is charged with assault and destruction of property after brawling with Antifa protester outside DC prison where rioters are held". Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 2023-06-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20230607053049/https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12142367/Ashli-Babbitts-mother-Micki-Witthoeft-58-charged-assault-destruction-property.html. Retrieved 2024-03-17. "She scuffled with a counter-protester, and on Tuesday was arrested and charged with assault."
- ↑ Jordan Fischer (2023-07-10). "Prosecutors 'no papered' charges against Ashli Babbitt's mother". WUSA-TV. Archived from the original on 2023-07-12. https://web.archive.org/web/20230712114545/https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/national/capitol-riots/assault-charges-wont-proceed-against-ashli-babbitts-mother-michelle-micki-witthoeft-dc-jail-vigil/65-f8f988aa-0904-4d99-a1e0-6aab115ccf91. Retrieved 2024-03-17.
- ↑ Scott MacFarlane, Rebecca Kaplan (2023-03-23). "Mother of Ashli Babbitt meets with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy". CBS News (Washington DC). Archived from the original on 2023-03-23. https://web.archive.org/web/20230323230711/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ashli-babbitt-mother-meets-kevin-mccarthy/. Retrieved 2024-03-17. "McCarthy had little to say about the meeting to reporters, telling them only that 'she requested the meeting.'"
- ↑ Ryan J. Reilly, Ryan Nobles, Liz Brown-Kaiser (2023-03-23). "Kevin McCarthy met Ashli Babbitt's mom ahead of GOP visit with Jan. 6 prisoners". NBC News (Washington DC). Archived from the original on 2023-12-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20231219000021/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/kevin-mccarthy-met-ashli-babbitts-mom-ahead-gop-visit-jan-6-prisoners-rcna76419. Retrieved 2024-03-17. "Witthoeft said the meeting went well. She said they discussed McCarthy's previous comments about Babbitt's death, but she did not go into detail about what he said. 'I felt like it was a good meeting,' Witthoeft said. 'I thought Speaker McCarthy was delightful.'"
