Man Who Stood Next to Ashli Babbitt When She Was Shot on Jan. 6 Is Sentenced

Iraj Javid (wearing grey knit cap) looks down at Ashli Babbitt moments after she was shot outside the Speakers Lobby at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Sam Montoya/Special to The Epoch Times)

A Virginia man who stood next to Ashli Babbitt with his hands up after she was shot outside the Speaker’s Lobby on Jan. 6, 2021, was sentenced to 24 months of probation after apologizing for his “completely aberrant conduct” in the U.S. Capitol that day.

Iraj George Javid, 32, of Bristow, Virginia, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Washington in a plea deal on one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

Chief Judge Beryl Howell also ordered an unspecified term of home detention and required Javid to pay $500 in restitution to the Architect of the Capitol.

Javid was seen on video in various places inside the Capitol on Jan. 6, including the hallway outside the Speaker’s Lobby where U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd shot Babbitt.

Babbitt was shot as she climbed up into a broken window leading into the Speaker’s Lobby just before 2:45 p.m. When she fell back to the floor after being shot, Babbitt landed directly in front of Javid.

Iraj Javid (right), his wife, Kelly, and their three children. (Defender Services Office/Screenshot via The Epoch Times)

Javid stood with his hands up as members of the U.S. Capitol Police SWAT team moved in to render first aid to the mortally wounded woman from San Diego, California. He ducked down as one of the officers aimed his M4 rifle into the Speaker’s Lobby, unsure where the shot had come from.

Federal prosecutors asked Howell to sentence Javid to 21 days in jail with 36 months of probation. Javid’s defense attorney suggested probation, including home detention. The maximum sentence for the parading misdemeanor is six months in jail.

“During any interaction with law enforcement that day, he raised his hands to signify that he intended no harm,” assistant public defender Ned Smock wrote in Javid’s sentencing memo.

Lost Job of 11 Years

“He did not push, insult, or harm any member of law enforcement, nor did he boast about his involvement or minimize his culpability or the seriousness of what happened on January 6 after the fact,” Smock wrote.

As a result of the charges filed against him, Javid lost his job and suffered other consequences. “Mr. Javid’s decision to enter the Capitol that day has already dramatically altered the path of his life,” Smock wrote. “He lost his job of 11 years, he has been shunned by many members of his community, and he now has a criminal record.”

Prosecutor Niall O’Donnell said Javid entered the Capitol even though he knew police were being assaulted by rioters.

“Javid was not deterred from entering and remaining inside the Capitol even though he observed multiple assaults on U.S. Capitol Police (‘USCP’) officers at the east Rotunda doors,” O’Donnell wrote in the government’s sentencing memo. “ Javid stood mere feet away from rioters who were pushing and shoving officers while aggressively yelling at them.”

Javid was arrested on March 3, 2022, near his job at the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. He was charged with four misdemeanors, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

As part of a plea agreement, all charges except the parading count were dismissed.

In a letter to Howell, Javid expressed remorse for being at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

“I cannot explain the shame and pain I’ve felt for my actions,” he wrote. “I wish I could have chosen differently that day, but I cannot.”