Lawsuit Filed By Family: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has reached an agreemnt in principle to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Ashli Babbitt, the woman who was fatally shot by a U.S. Capitol Police officer during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Babbitt, a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump, was part of the violent mob that stormed the Capitol building in an effort to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
The tentative settlement was disclosed during a Friday hearing held before Judge Ana Reyes of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. While specific terms of the settlement have not yet been made public, the agreement signifies that both sides are moving toward resolving the legal dispute outside of a full trial.
Babbitt’s family filed the wrongful death lawsuit in January 2024, seeking $30 million in damages. They argued that her death was unjust and that the officer, Lt. Michael Byrd, acted improperly when he fired the fatal shot. However, following a thorough internal investigation, Byrd was cleared of any wrongdoing. The probe concluded that he acted lawfully and in accordance with police procedures when he shot Babbitt, who was attempting to climb through a shattered window into the Speaker’s Lobby—a secure area where members of Congress and their staff were sheltering from the rioters.
During the emergency court hearing, Babbitt family attorney Robert Sticht informed the judge that an agreement had been reached in principle and that the final paperwork would likely be signed within three weeks. The hearing was called on an urgent basis after a former attorney who had previously represented the Babbitt family requested a preliminary injunction. That lawyer wanted assurance that he would be compensated for his contributions to the case, should the settlement be finalized.
Still on Lawsuit Filed By Family
Ashli Babbitt has remained a figure of political controversy and symbolism since her death. While law enforcement officials and many political leaders have defended the officer’s actions as necessary to protect lives and uphold the rule of law, others—particularly Trump and his allies—have portrayed Babbitt as a martyr. Trump has consistently expressed his sympathy for her and her family, framing her death as an unjust killing rather than a lawful use of force.
In March, during an interview on Newsmax, Trump stated that he had not been previously aware of the lawsuit filed by Babbitt’s family but promised to investigate the matter personally. “I’m a big fan of Ashli Babbitt, OK,” Trump said. “Ashli Babbitt was a really good person, a big MAGA fan, Trump fan. She was innocently standing there—they even say trying to sort of hold back the crowd. And a man did something unthinkable to her when he shot her, and I think it’s a disgrace. I’m going to look into that.”
Despite Trump’s claims, video footage and witness accounts confirmed that Babbitt was actively attempting to breach a barricaded and restricted area within the Capitol. The shooting took place during a chaotic and violent moment when law enforcement officers were struggling to prevent further breaches into areas where lawmakers were still in hiding.
As legal and political debates continue, the case remains emblematic of the deep divisions that persist in the aftermath of January 6. The forthcoming formalization of the settlement between the DOJ and Babbitt’s family may bring an end to the legal battle, but the public and political discourse surrounding her death is likely to persist.
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