Gallego Introduces Amendment to Block Taxpayer Funds from Paying for January 6 Insurrectionist’s Military Funeral Honors

WASHINGTON - On the five-year anniversary of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced an amendment to the Senate Defense Appropriations bill to prohibit the use of taxpayer funds for military funeral honors to insurrectionist Ashli Babbitt.

"Five years ago today, a violent mob stormed the capitol to overturn our democracy. I was on the House floor on January 6, and I remember hearing the pounding on the doors, seeing my colleagues barricading the doors with furniture, and fearing for our lives. This decision to grant one of those insurrectionists, Ashli Babbitt, full military honors, including a military burial, is indefensible and deeply disrespectful to the service members who have honorably worn the uniform," said Senator Gallego. "That's why I'm introducing this amendment to make sure that taxpayer dollars are not used to pay for military funeral honors for an insurrectionist. She did not die protecting Americans, she died betraying the Constitution of the United States."

In late August of last year, the Trump administration announced it is offering full military funeral honors for Babbitt. This amendment would make it so none of the funds appropriated by the Senate Defense Appropriations bill could be spent for military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt because she is considered ineligible for such honors due to her participation in the January 6, 2021 insurrection.

Read the amendment HERE.

In September, Senator Gallego condemned the Air Force's decision to grant Babbitt military honors and introduced a resolution on the Senate floor to block Babbitt from receiving the honors.

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