Representative Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) has defended the Capitol Police officer who shot rioter Ashli Babbitt, parting with former President Donald Trump‘s version of events.
Speaking on C-Span for its January 6 Views From the House show, ahead of its Sunday release, Rep. Mullin firmly defended the officer’s actions in the Capitol as rioters stormed the building.
Mullin broke from Trump’s condemnation of the officer and said: “He was the last person in the world whoever wanted to use force like that and he wasn’t prone to do that.
“I know for a fact because after it happened, he came over. He was physically and emotionally distraught. I actually gave him a hug and said, ‘Sir, you did what you had to do.'”
Mullin continued: “He was doing his job. He got put in a situation where he had to do his job because there were (House) members still in the balcony.
A Justice Department investigation found “there is insufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution” of the officer who killed Babbitt.