Capitol police officers face disciplinary actions for conduct during January 6 riot

Washington DC - Officials at the US Capitol Police (UCSP) are recommending six officers on the force be disciplined for their actions during the January 6 attacks, when protesters stormed the Capitol, insisting Donald Trump had won the 2020 presidential election.

The US Capitol Police has been conducting its own internal investigation into its officers' response to the January 6 attack.
The US Capitol Police has been conducting its own internal investigation into its officers' response to the January 6 attack.  © IMAGO / Christian Offenberg

The six, who weren’t named, face violations that range from inappropriate conduct to "improper" dissemination of information, a statement from the USCP stated on Saturday.

There was no explanation of what any punishment could entail. And none of the six cops were identified.

One of the 38 officers investigated during the internal investigations was Lt. Michael Byrd, who fired the shot that killed Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran and ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, Politico reported.

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Byrd was cleared of wrongdoing by the Justice Department, which in April said investigators had examined video, physical evidence, autopsy results and statements from the officer involved, as well as other officers and witnesses.

According to the USCP statement, its Office of Professional Responsibility launched the internal probes of cops involved in the rioting, but the US Attorney’s Office didn’t find sufficient evidence that any of them committed a crime.

The USCP said its OPR investigators were able to identify the officers involved in 26 of the 38 investigations it opened, and for 20 officers, no wrongdoing was found.

Of the six cops who face punishment, however, three were accused of conduct unbecoming. Of the remaining three, one was accused of failure to comply with directives, one for making improper remarks and one for the "improper dissemination of information," the USCP statement said.

Another case is pending against an official accused of unsatisfactory performance and conduct unbecoming, the statement added.

Cover photo: IMAGO / Christian Offenberg

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