A heated exchange between CNN anchor Jim Acosta and contributor David Urban occurred on Friday during a discussion about the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach.
The two clashed over who was responsible for the events of that day, with Urban challenging the narrative that former President Donald Trump incited the chaos, while Acosta insisted that Trump was attempting to overturn the election results.
The discussion intensified when Urban addressed the claims about deaths resulting from the Capitol riot.
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He argued that the only person who died during the events of January 6 was Ashli Babbitt, a protester who was shot by Capitol police. “The only person that died on January 6th was Ashli Babbitt, who was murdered,” Urban said, a statement that sparked immediate pushback from Acosta.
Acosta countered, asserting that police officers also died in connection with the riot and insisted the violence could have been avoided if Trump had accepted the results of the 2020 election. “None of that would have happened if Donald Trump had just been a man and accepted the election results in 2020,” Acosta argued.
The fiery exchange was briefly calmed by fellow contributor Karen Finney, who intervened in the discussion to lower the tension.
David Urban on CNN: “The only person that died on January 6th was Ashli Babbitt, who was murdered”pic.twitter.com/rwTNDHEhXS
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) October 4, 2024
Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran and staunch Trump supporter, was shot inside the Capitol.
The Capitol police officer who shot her, Lt. Michael Byrd, later defended his actions in a 2021 interview, stating that he believed his actions saved lives. “There was no way to retreat. No other way to get out. If they get through that door, they’re into the House chamber and upon the members of Congress,” Byrd explained in an interview with NBC News.
Byrd recalled the chaos of the moment, with Capitol police radio communications describing officers being attacked with chemical agents and reports of severe injuries.
When protesters began breaking the glass on the doors leading to the House chamber, Byrd said he repeatedly warned them to stop, but when Babbitt attempted to climb through a broken window, he fired the shot that killed her.
Babbitt’s death has remained a point of controversy in the ongoing debate about the events of January 6.
While Byrd and some officials have defended his actions as necessary to protect lawmakers, Babbitt’s supporters, including many who backed Trump, have portrayed her as a victim of excessive force.
The debate over responsibility for the Capitol breach continues to be a contentious issue in American politics, as some argue that Trump and his allies stoked the flames of the unrest despite video evidence of him calling for peace.
In contrast, others maintain that the actions of individuals were the result of their own decisions.
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