The final act of a departing administration involved a pardon granted to Captain Michael Byrd, a Capitol Police officer. This pardon shielded him from potential consequences related to the shooting death of Ashli Babbitt, a protester who died during the events of January 6, 2021, within the U.S. Capitol building.
Video footage from that day depicts Byrd firing his weapon at Babbitt as she attempted to climb through a window near a barricaded entrance to the Speaker of the House’s office. She was unarmed at the time of the shooting, and the incident immediately sparked intense debate and scrutiny.
An internal investigation ultimately cleared Byrd of any wrongdoing, yet questions lingered regarding the decision to use lethal force without first attempting to de-escalate the situation or detain Babbitt. The presence of other armed officers nearby, potentially available for backup, further fueled these concerns.
Byrd’s record also revealed past issues with maintaining his law enforcement credentials. He had previously left his service weapon in a public restroom and faced multiple suspensions of his police powers due to failing firearms qualification standards.
In a subsequent interview, Byrd defended his actions, asserting he had saved numerous lives by preventing Babbitt from breaching the secured area. He also expressed distress over receiving death threats, characterizing the situation as simply “doing my job.”
Recently uncovered information reveals a parallel life for Captain Byrd. For nearly seventeen years, he and his wife have operated a home daycare center in Maryland.
This daycare operation has reportedly received substantial funding, totaling $190 million through a federal program. The scale of the financial support has drawn attention, particularly given the circumstances surrounding the shooting on January 6th.
Remarkably, despite being in operation for almost two decades, the daycare center appears to lack any publicly available reviews or testimonials. This absence of feedback has raised further questions and fueled speculation among observers.
The juxtaposition of Byrd’s role in a highly charged political event with his long-running childcare business presents a complex and unsettling picture, prompting continued examination of both his actions and his financial dealings.
