Ashli Babbitt's Mother Cited During Jan. 6 Anniversary Protest

WASHINGTON, DC — The mother of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot two years ago when she and hundreds of pro-Trump supporters attempted to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was cited by Capitol police Friday for illegally blocking traffic during a demonstration.

Micki Witthoeft, 58, was arrested and cited for failure to obey police orders and blocking and obstructing roadways around 1:45 p.m. Friday, Capitol police said in a statement. The incident happened on Independence Avenue Southwest near First Street Southwest.

According to police, Witthoeft was among a group of people demonstrating on Capitol grounds Friday. Police said the group did not have a permit to demonstrate, so officers established a police line to prevent them from moving west on Independence Avenue.

Capitol police said group members were told to get out of the road and move to the sidewalk or they would arrested.

"We’re not discussing it. Sidewalk now, or you’re under arrest. It’s that simple. We’re not discussing it. We’re not having any discussions. The sidewalk, or you’ll be placed under arrest," an officer said, according to a video posted of the interaction by News2Share’s Ford Fischer.

Witthoeft was given multiple warnings, police said, but rather than leave the roadway, she turned around with her hands behind her back and asked to be arrested.

Witthoeft was processed and released Friday afternoon after receiving a citation, police said. She is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.

On Jan. 6, 2021, Babbitt was among a group of pro-Trump supporters who entered the Capitol building in an attempt to stop a joint session of Congress from certifying the 2020 election results. The group made it to a hallway outside the Speaker's Lobby, which leads to the U.S. House of Representatives chamber, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Officers used furniture to barricade the glass doors separating the hallway and Speaker’s Lobby to stop the group; however, the mob attempted to break through the doors by striking them and breaking the glass with their hands, flagpoles, helmets and other objects, authorities said.

As the mob continued to strike the glass doors, Babbitt attempted to climb through one of the doors where the glass was broken. An officer inside the Speaker’s Lobby fired a single round from his pistol, striking Babbitt in the left shoulder.

Babbitt was taken to Washington Hospital Center, where she died from her injuries.