The Justice Department has tentatively settled with the family of Ashli Babbitt, a veteran of the Air Force and a supporter of Trump, who was fatally shot by a Capitol police officer during the events of January 6, 2021.
A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has been notified of this preliminary agreement related to a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit initiated in 2024.
Robert Stitch, the family’s lawyer, mentioned that the formal settlement is expected to be finalized in the next three weeks, as reported by ABC News.
Babbitt, who was 35 at the time, was shot by U.S. Capitol Police Deputy Michael Byrd as she attempted to climb through a broken window on a barricaded door within the Capitol during the riot.
Along with other Trump supporters, Babbitt was on the verge of entering the lobby of a Congressional building amid chaos, as some members of Congress were being evacuated.
Only one shot was fired, hitting Babbitt in the shoulder. She was subsequently taken to the Washington Hospital Center, where she later died.
An internal inquiry by the Capitol Police found that Byrd acted in self-defense, and he was cleared of any wrongdoing.
Babbitt, originally from San Diego, had a 14-year career in the Air Force, including service in Afghanistan and Iraq, along with a National Guard deployment in Kuwait and Qatar.
Before her death, she was known for her strong support for Trump, often engaging with political conspiracy theories such as QAnon on social media.
In March, Trump indicated he would “look into” Babbitt’s death and potential financial recompense for those involved in the January 6 events.
