ASHLI Babbit's mom has claimed that her daughter was "publicly executed' and had "no insurrection in her heart" on the first anniversary of her fatal shooting in the Capitol riot.

Micki Witthoeft exclusively told The Sun on Thursday that she believes Babbitt was a "proud patriot" who was killed while "exercising her first amendment right."

Witthoeft gathered outside Capitol buildings with friends and held a picture of her daughter as she claimed that the cop who shot Babbitt should be "held accountable."

Babbit, 35, was among the hundreds of people who swarmed the Capitol on January 6, after a Donald Trump rally.

She was the only person killed during the chaos. 

Three others died of medical emergencies during the rush. 

Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick also died the following day after he was assaulted by two men. 

A medical examiner said he died of natural causes, however.

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Since her daughter's death last year, Witthoeft has said she wants answers and the family announced it would sue the Capitol police for $10million in damages.

It came after police chiefs said the cop who shot Babbitt, who they would not identify, would not face prosecution.

Lieutenant Michael Leroy Byrd, 53, came forward in an interview last August and named himself as the officer involved.

"I love and miss my daughter. This country needs to stand up for my daughter," Witthoeft said.

"Michael Byrd needs to be held accountable."

Wearing American flag sunglasses, Witthoeft prayed as she stood with her daughter's picture on Thursday.

"Jan 6 Patriots. God has his hands on you. Don't lose faith," the group said.

"There's so much wrong in our country … Lord, please just show us the way."

"Ashli was a proud patriot,"Witthoeft told The Sun.

"She was exercising her first amendment right and was publicly executed for it. There was no insurrection in my daughter's heart or in the hearts of anyone there that day."

'EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT'

She added that her daughter was killed for the right to free speech when asked about criticism Babbitt has received for her actions on January 6.

"This is America," Witthoeft said.

"Everyone has a right to say what they want whether they agree with me or not. This is what my daughter believed and she was shot for that right."

Babbit was shot in the chest by Byrd as she attempted to climb through a broken window in a door within the Capitol building to get closer to lawmakers voting to certify Joe Biden's presidential win inside.

Video footage captured the sound of the gunshot and showed the woman crumpling to the floor from multiple angles.

After the shot was fired, a protester can be heard shouting "shots fired" as others ask the officers to "stop."

The officer was put on leave immediately after the riot as the Justice Department opened an investigation into the shooting. 

Babbitt was an Air Force vet with 14 years in the service, during which she did four tours of duty.

She was a high-level security official throughout her time in service.

Before her death, Babbitt had been hit with a slew of legal issues including a restraining order filed against her.

Ashli, who was married to Aaron Babbitt and lived in California, was vocal about her support for former president Trump on Twitter and documented her trip to DC.

The Trump supporter had filmed herself at a rally earlier on the day she died.

CAPITOL COP COMES FORWARD

Her family has previously said that it has spoken to Trump about her death.

The former president had also publicly called on the cop involved to be named before Byrd himself came forward.

On August 26, 2021, the veteran US Capitol Police officer Byrd spoke publicly for the first time following the incident.

The Washington native had been in law enforcement for 28 years.

According to the Daily Mail, Byrd joined the Capitol Police in 1993 and has been regularly assigned to the Speaker's Lobby, the highly restricted waiting area behind the House chamber that Babbitt and others were attempting to breach

"I know that day I saved countless lives," Byrd said in an interview with NBC News.

"I know members of Congress, as well as my fellow officers and staff, were in jeopardy and in serious danger. And that's my job."

It came just three days after the U.S. Capitol Police Department announced they would not discipline the officer.

"USCP's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) determined the officer's conduct was lawful and within Department policy, which says an officer may use deadly force only when the officer reasonably believes that action is in the defense of human life, including the officer's own life, or in the defense of any person in immediate danger of serious physical injury," Capitol Police said in a statement.

The Department of Justice also said it would not pursue criminal charges against the officer.

'I DID MY JOB'

"I tried to wait as long as I could," Byrd added in the NBC interview.

"I hoped and prayed no one tried to enter through those doors. But their failure to comply required me to take the appropriate action to save the lives of members of Congress and myself and my fellow officers."

When asked about the Republicans who've criticized him, Byrd responded, "I hope they understand I did my job."

Since the events of last January 6, many of those how stormed the buildings have been arrested and charged by the US attorney’s office.

Many of the hundreds of January 6 protesters who have been formally indicted are charged with trespassing, vandalism, or similar minor offenses.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the nation about the January 6 events.

"To state the obvious, one year ago today, in this sacred place, democracy was attacked," his speech began.

"Simply attacked.

"The will of the people was under assault. The Constitution, our constitution, faced the gravest of threats."

Trump offered a rebuttal to the speech in a statement shortly afterward.

"To watch Biden speaking is very hurtful to many people," it said.

"He acts like he's aggrieved, but we're the ones who were aggrieved and America is suffering because of it."

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