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| - FACT CHECK: No, Ashli Babbitt Is Not Alive
A post shared on Instagram claims Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt is still alive after reportedly being killed during the event.
View this post on Instagram
Verdict: False
While the two women do look similar, Babbitt has been confirmed dead by the government, her family and husband.
Fact Check:
Babbitt participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack, where she was reportedly shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer after attempting to enter the Speaker’s lobby through a barricade, according to The Associated Press. An investigation into her death was closed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in April 2021, a press release from the agency read.
The Instagram post claims Babbitt is still alive. The post shows a woman who looks similar to Babbitt at an Oct. 1, 2022 Trump rally, where she ends up ducking down at the end. Commentators said it signaled she was attempting to hide from the cameras.
This claim, however, is false. Babbitt’s death has been confirmed by the DOJ, the United States Capitol Police and family. The DOJ’s April 2021 press release stated it “examined video footage posted on social media, statements from the officer involved and other officers and witnesses to the events, physical evidence from the scene of the shooting, and the results of an autopsy” during its investigation of Babbitt’s death.
The Capitol Police’s investigation also stated that Babbitt’s shooting was “fatal” and cleared the officer after “reviewing all the available evidence, including video and radio calls.” Aaron Babbitt, Ashli Babbitt’s husband, told TMZ that she would still be alive if he hadn’t left her solo. (RELATED: Does This Photo Show An American Flag Missing Stars At A Trump Rally?)
Micki Witthoeft, Ashli Babbitt’s mother, discussed Babbitt’s death with conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza in August 2021, according to Fox News. Babbitt’s family said they would file a wrongful death lawsuit against the Capitol Police, though it currently remains in limbo as of February 2023, Fox 8 reported.
Furthermore, the implication that she is hiding from the cameras appears to be false. In the full video the Instagram post is taken from, the woman is visible at various points. C-SPAN video also shows that she is visible throughout most of the rally and she does not appear to hide from the cameras.
Misinformation regarding the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots has circulated on social media since it occurred. Check Your Fact previously debunked a claim in October 2022 allegedly showing a rally regarding the events being shut down due to no attendees.
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