U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger | U.S. Congress
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger | U.S. Congress
The husband of a woman shot and killed by U.S. Capitol security guard Michael Byrd says Jan. 6 commission member U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger donated to Byrd's GoFundMe page and bragged about the donation on social media.
In an interview with Fox News' Tucker Carlson, Aaron Babbitt criticized Kinzinger for the donation and for refusing to investigate the circumstances of the murder of his wife, Ashli Babbitt.
Ashli, 35, was the only person killed during that day of protests at the U.S. Capitol, some of which resulted in property damage.
“A lot of people don’t know this, but a sitting member on that panel, Adam Kinzinger, publicly donated to Michael Byrd’s GoFundMe. He gave him $200 and he boasted about it on his own Twitter," said Aaron Babbitt “I truly believe in my heart that (Kinzinger and Jan. 6 commission members) know it is murder. They cannot admit to it. So they have to just blow by it and bypass it and act like it never happened."
Michael Byrd admits shooting Babbitt to death as she was climbing through a broken U.S. Capitol window.
Byrd, who hasn't been charged in the matter, received $164,211 from GoFundMe donors, including Kinzinger. His campaign, launched Nov. 18, 2021, said the money was for "rent, food and monthly bills."
Kinzinger tweeted that same day in support of Byrd.
"A worthy cause, as this man has faced quite an onslaught of misinformation and extreme threats," he wrote.
Kinzinger, 44, grew up in Bloomington and graduated from Normal West H.S., then Illinois State University in 2000. He served on the McLean County Board from 2000-2003.
He has served in Congress since 2010 but is not running for re-election in 2022.
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