Let’s talk about Lt. Michael Byrd, the U.S. Capitol Police officer who became a household name after the events of Jan. 6, 2021. It turns out, that Byrd’s disciplinary history reads like the plot of a really bad procedural drama—except no one gets written off the show.
The 2001 Card Game Debacle
First, let’s rewind to 2001. Byrd, then a young officer, allegedly ditched his post in the Speaker’s Office (one of the most secure places in the Capitol) to go play cards in a nearby cloakroom. Yes, that really happened: a cloakroom card game. If that wasn’t enough, when confronted, Byrd pulled a classic “deny everything” move on.
As one insider put it:
“He ends up getting into some trouble, but they won’t terminate him,” the insider said. “So therefore they didn’t want to move forward with the untruthful statements [charge], but that was still a sustained charge against him.”
You’d think abandoning a high-security post would be career-ending, right? Apparently not. Despite being caught on camera, eating and drinking on the job (another big no-no), and lying to investigators, Byrd got a slap on the wrist. Gee, can we figure out why?
A source summed it up:
VISIT OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL“They charge him with eating, drinking on post, abandoning post. They charge him with untruthful statements with the recommendation to terminate.”
But fire him? Nah. Why make accountability a thing?
The “Missing” Records
Fast-forward to 2024. Congressional investigators asked for records of Byrd’s disciplinary cases, and—surprise!—they’ve mysteriously vanished. That happens a lot when Democrats are involved.
According to one source:
“That would’ve been documented so many different ways that it’d be impossible for them not to have it.”
“It’s funny to me that everyone knows Mike’s a liar and the case that sustains it that had all the evidence that shows he is a liar is something that Tad [DiBiase] (general counsel for U.S. Capitol Police) and the department can’t find when there’s all these different records. If they just did a search on the emails, all this stuff, it would be in existence.”
But hey, who needs transparency when you have a J6 conspiracy to pull off?
2021 and Beyond: Promotions and Perks
Post-Jan. 6, Byrd was promoted to captain in 2023, despite his colorful past. His new title came with perks, too. Congressional records show Byrd was showered with financial assistance, including $36,000 in “retention funds” (while his colleagues got a meager $3,000 each), $21,000 in home security upgrades, and lodging at a military facility costing $35,000.
And let’s not forget the Capitol Police dignitary protection detail that reportedly cost $425 per hour. Because of priorities.
When Byrd was promoted to Captain in 2023, Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) wrote in a Nov. 20 letter to Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger:
“I have concerns about this decision, given Byrd’s lengthy disciplinary history and the apparent political influence of internal operational decisions related to Byrd following January 6, 2021.”
Someone has to say it; it might as well be me. Michael Byrd was the equivalent of a DEI hire. And because he shot and murdered Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, who on January 6, 2021, posed no immediate threat, especially when multiple Capitol police officers were standing right behind her on the stairway landing, Nancy Pelosi and other progressive leaders who suffered in combination from the “woke mind virus” and TDS thought it would silence the questions about Byrd’s lack of accountability for murdering someone by promoting him. “They promoted him, so he must not have done anything wrong.”
The Shot Heard ’Round the World
Byrd’s most infamous moment came when he shot Ashli Babbitt during the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. While some called it a justified use of force, critics raised questions about Byrd’s handling of his service weapon. A Getty Images photo even shows Byrd walking through the Capitol with his finger on the trigger of his Glock—a major firearms safety violation.
Other Disciplinary Hits
Byrd’s record boasts a greatest hits list of infractions. Highlights include:
- Leaving his loaded service weapon unattended in a Capitol Visitor Center bathroom for almost an hour (2019).
- Berating a fellow officer at a high school football game, calling him a “racist a**hole” (2015).
- Firing his weapon at vehicles near his home under dubious circumstances (2004).
The Financial Fiascos
Byrd’s financial troubles are also noteworthy. Two bankruptcies (1999 and 2009), a $56,366 tax lien in 2019, and $1.27 million in creditor claims discharged for just $14,563. If financial stability were a requirement for holding a firearm, Byrd might not make the cut.
The Fallout
Byrd’s actions and the ensuing lack of accountability have sparked criticism. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wants homicide charges filed against him, while others have called out the apparent political favoritism that’s kept him employed—and promoted—despite his track record.
In one particularly spicy email exchange about the Memorial Fund, Byrd complained about being “lumped in” with his injured colleagues:
“Wow! This is really bad for you all to do this when you know we’re expecting to have funds soon. So disappointing!”
To which an official responded:
“Yes, you are being lumped in with the other 91 officers who suffered injuries that day. The Memorial Fund is for the entire department, not one officer.”
Ouch.
The Legacy
So, what does Byrd’s career teach us? For starters, it seems that in the world of Capitol Police, accountability is optional, records are “misplaced,” and bad behavior is rewarded with promotions and perks.
If this is the bar for high-ranking officers, maybe it’s time for a new playbook. Or at least a better poker face for those cloakroom card games. I think the DOGE team should figure out a way to get rid of dangerous men who pose as Capitol police officers for the safety of everyone.
#michaelbyrd #capitolpolice #accountabilitymatters
