Ashli Babbitt's mother arrested in D.C.

"My daughter served this country for their freedom to be idiots, so they're welcome," Babbitt's mother said about the counter-protesters.

By Madeleine Hubbard

Published: May 31, 2023 10:23am

Washington, D.C., police announced the arrest of Michelle “Micki” Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt, the Air Force veteran who was fatally shot by police during the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.

Witthoeft, 58, was arrested Tuesday near the D.C. jail on charges of destroying property and simple assault, police spokesman Officer Hugh Carew said, according to The Washington Post.

A police report shows that the charges were connected to an event at the same location Monday. During that incident, a woman said she was pushed and a bullhorn strap was damaged.

An apparent video of the incident obtained by News2Share shows that Witthoeft was marching with a crowd chanting "Ashli Babbitt!" on Memorial Day. A counter-protester who identifies as the live streamer "Anarchy Princess" followed the march yelling, "F**k Ashli Babbitt!" in a megaphone.

Witthoeft had said she was marching for an investigation into the murder of her daughter and other "unarmed memorial citizens" and said, "We're here for Memorial Day to honor all the fallen, which includes my daughter, Ashli Babbitt."

Commenting on the counter-protesters, Witthoeft said, "My daughter served this country for their freedom to be idiots, so they're welcome."

As the crowd with Babbitt's mother got closer to the D.C. jail, she yelled other phrases such as "Ashli Babbitt's mom, domestic terrorist!" and "Nazis incoming! Insurrectionist losers!"

As the live streamer's megaphone played sirens while the group arrived at the jail, video shows Witthoeft apparently pushing her away and taking the megaphone and throwing it to the ground shortly thereafter.

Witthoeft was arrested earlier this year as she tried to lay flowers at the Capitol on the two-year anniversary of Babbitt's death. The U.S. Capitol Police said she failed to "obey an order" and was "blocking and obstructing roadways." The charges were eventually dropped.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.