Jasmine Crockett Advocates for Deceased Bodyguard Involved in SWAT Standoff

Jasmine Crockett has spoken out in support of her bodyguard, who died in a confrontation with law enforcement, asserting she was unaware of his criminal history.

Diamon-Maziarre Robinson, 39, passed away Wednesday evening after a pursuit with Dallas police. He was sought for allegedly impersonating an officer.

Robinson faced multiple felony charges, was wanted for a parole violation, and had a lengthy criminal record, including seven theft arrests from 2009 to 2017.

Despite his background, Robinson ran a business that provided local police officers for off-duty security roles, eventually leading to his involvement with Crockett’s security team.

The Texas lawmaker addressed the situation on Monday, following reports that Robinson had used various aliases, stolen government license plates, and counterfeit uniforms to run his operation.

Still, Crockett insisted that Robinson ‘always conducted himself respectfully’ as she praised his work, which she claimed also saw him embedded with Capitol Police, adding ‘our hearts grieve the loss of someone we knew.’

‘He never endangered our team, worked diligently, coordinated with local law enforcement and maintained positive relationships throughout the community,’ she said.

Crockett blamed ‘loopholes’ in the hiring process for Robinson being able to sneak through and work for the Congresswoman and her team ‘for years’, but also said that his past ‘doesn’t fit the person’ she knew.

Jasmine Crockett defended her staff’s hiring policies and claimed not to know about the criminal record of Diamon-Maziarre Robinson (left), a bodyguard she employed who was shot and killed in a standoff with law enforcement 

Bodycam footage from the fatal shooting of Robinson was released on Monday

Diamon-Maziarre Robinson, 39, died Wednesday night following a police chase, with the Dallas Police Department saying that he was wanted for impersonating an officer 

‘We are saddened and shocked by some of the concerning revelations,’ she added. ‘Our team followed all protocols outlined by the House to contract additional security. 

‘We were approved to use this vendor, who also provided security services for additional entities in the local community and worked closely with law enforcement agencies, including Capitol Police.

‘The fact that this individual was able to somehow circumvent the vetting process for something as sensitive as security for a member of Congress highlights the loopholes and shortcomings in many of our systems.’ 

She even suggested that Capitol Police should take charge of providing security, even getting in a dig at nemesis Donald Trump.

‘This situation reiterates the need for Capitol Police to provide security for members of Congress, especially under this administration’s new normal of inciting attacks on those who dare to speak out.’ 

Despite the accusations of identity theft and impersonating a law enforcement officer, Crockett said he ‘used those loopholes without malice,’ adding that his ‘limited criminal history’ contained no violent offenses. 

Robinson would allegedly tell potential officers he was one of them and promise security jobs under the name Mike King, according to the police.

Dallas Deputy Police Chief William Griffith claimed Monday that Robinson had run the deception for ‘many years.’ 

Crockett blamed ‘loopholes’ in the hiring process for Robinson being able to sneak through and work for the Congresswoman and her team ‘for years’ but also said that his past ‘doesn’t fit the person’ she knew

Dallas Deputy Police Chief William Griffith claimed Monday that Robinson had run the deception for ‘many years’

‘The agencies that he reported to work for do not exist. So dignitaries, basically special dignitary police, that agency does not exist within the federal government. So that’s who he portrayed to be. There was no actual federal agency that he worked for that existed,’ he said. 

But Crockett claimed that the man she knew was an upstanding member of her security staff.

‘There was never any reason to suspect that he wasn’t who he held himself out to be,’ she said.

‘Our hearts grieve the loss of someone we knew and the lost good that could have come from his redemption.’

Capitol Police told the Daily Mail on Tuesday morning that Robinson has never worked for them, nor been affiliated with their police department.  

In the body camera footage, officers ask Robinson to get out of the car and ‘stand up’ before they notice he is armed. 

‘Don’t reach! Don’t do it! Don’t do it! Show your hands! Don’t do it!’ an officer shouts before multiple gunshots go off.    

Police found 11 weapons in Robinson’s possession, including one that was stolen. 

Robinson allegedly posed as a law enforcement officer and operated a private security firm despite a criminal record involving theft and government record tampering

The gun found at the scene belonging to Robinson when he was shot

Robinson had several felony warrants, as well as a parole violation warrant and an extensive criminal record, with arrests for seven instances of theft between 2009 and 2017

Crockett greets supporters with 39-year-old Robinson in Dallas on February 27

They also claimed he was using multiple vehicles – a black GMC Yukon and a white Ford F-250 – that had been reported as stolen.

Those vehicles, as well as a silver Dodge Charger he had been operating, all displayed stolen government license plates.  

The fugitive led cops into the Children’s Medical Center Dallas hospital parking garage shortly before midnight last Wednesday, before barricading himself inside a vehicle. 

He was eventually forced out of the car by tear gas and was shot and killed when he pulled a gun on officers, police said. 

While Robinson was not a police officer, he had worked a number of security jobs, including on Representative Crockett’s detail in both Washington, DC and in Texas, according to CBS. 

He was frequently seen by her side as she campaigned in recent months for the Democratic Party’s Senate nomination in Texas, which she lost to James Talarico. 

Sources told CBS that Robinson’s role on Crockett’s detail saw him organize security at a number of her events. 

Documents show that a person named Mike King was paid by Crockett for ‘security services’ as recently as last year, the outlet reported. 

Robinson’s role in her security team comes after her campaign developed a reputation for having guards escort journalists out of events and being combative with the press. 

In two incidents in late February, Crockett’s campaign called police on a CNN reporter and a correspondent with The Atlantic, escorting them off the premises at campaign rallies. 

The firebrand Democrat lost her Senate race to Talarico earlier this month after complaining that voting irregularities cost her the nomination.