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Paul Gosar dubbed ‘moron’ for asking FBI name of cop who shot Ashley Babbitt

Gosar says Ashley Babbitt was 'executed', grills FBI Director Christopher Wray on why cop has not been named before getting trolled on social media

Rep Paul Gosar (R-AZ) is currently being slammed by social media after his questions to the FBI Director on June 15. Director Christopher Wray was testifying in front of the House Oversight Committee on the January 6 insurrection, when Gosar asked why the cop who shot Ashley Babbitt has not been named.

Babbit, an Air Force veteran, was one of the hundreds of people that stormed the Capitol on January 6. She was killed as police attempted to control the insurrection, which has become a major flashpoint for conservatives and Trump supporters. Gosar has previously tweeted in support of Babbitt and is now pursuing the name of her shooter, who is a Capitol police officer. Gosar, a staunch Trump ally, has previously been slammed by his own siblings in a campaign ad for a Democratic challenger. 

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Despite that, Gosar has continued to double down on his rhetoric. He once called the insurrectionists "patriots" and has now also voted against awarding Congressional gold medals to the cops who responded to the insurrection. Both of which social media isn't taking too kindly.

Gosar makes Babbitt the face of insurrection

At Wray's testimony, Gosar spent his time making Babbitt the face of the insurrection. He first asked Wray "Do you know who executed Ashley Babbitt?" Despite Wray saying he was unsure of the facts of the case, Gosar continued his line of questioning asking "Do you agree Babbitt was unarmed?" He also said, "It's disturbing, the Capitol Police officer that did that shooting appeared to be hiding, lying in wait and gave no warning before killing her."

Wray replied that the FBI was not involved in the investigation, and hence he could not "agree or disagree with your characterization." The shooting of Babbitt is currently being investigated by the Metro Police, along with the Department of Justice. The FBI is investigating the insurrection itself, and all those that were involved in the storming of the Capitol. Despite Wray's insistence that the FBI was not involved in the investigation over the Babbitt shooting, Gosar continued and asked if he "supported lethal force against unarmed citizens?"

Gosar was also one of the 21 House Republicans who voted against a bill to award congressional gold medals to police officers who responded to the insurrection. That bill passed with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate anyway on June 15. Along with Gosar, Reps Lauren Boebart, Louie Gohmert, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Andrew Clyde were the other notable names to object, mostly for using the term "insurrection".

 

Twitter slams Gosar's 'flair for the dramatic'

Delina DiSanto, who is running against Gosar tweeted, "These are the lies and misleading statements Paul Gosar spews out of his mouth deceiving those who listen to this trash. Gosar shows no respect for Capital police or enforcement officers, only protecting insurrectionists & white nationalists. He is a disgrace. Help me defeat him."

One person said, "Vile White Supremacist Paul Gosar asks FBI director who “executed” Ashli Babbitt during the insurrection. Maybe the response should have been “you since you helped plan it.” Another slammed, "Gosar has a flair for the dramatic. Executed? Spare me."

"Maybe that Rep. should watch the film of the incident again, this time with his eyeglasses. Rep Gosar’s description isn’t what I saw," one person said. Another summed up the situation and said, "The Republicans believe the Secret Service "executed" the domestic terrorist trying to kill the Vice President and Speaker of the House."

Republican Minnesota State Representative Pat Garofalo tweeted, "Paul Gosar is a moron. His lies dishonor law enforcement and put other officers in danger. He is unfit to serve in Congress." Another trolled, "Gosar is a whack job - it makes me wonder about the type of people who voted for him..."

Despite objections, the federal government on June 15 voted to award gold medals to the US Capitol Police force and the Metropolitan Police Department. The third set of medals will be displayed at the Smithsonian, along with a list of officers who helped defend the Capitol.