The Trump administration is reportedly set to pay $5 million to settle the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Ashli Babbitt, a rioter who was killed on January 6th.
Babbitt was shot by Lt. Col. Michael Bird during the Capitol riot when she attempted to breach a barricade in the lobby of the House Speaker’s office. Supporters of Babbitt, including former President Trump, argued that excessive force was used against her, while police maintained they were obligated to protect lawmakers. According to the Washington Post:
Babbitt’s family filed the lawsuit in early 2024, seeking $30 million. This month, attorneys from both sides informed the judges that a settlement had been tentatively reached, which altered the previous stance of the Justice Department that was preparing for trial in July 2026.
The full details of the agreement were not finalized during the hearing on May 2nd, and U.S. District Court Judge Anna C. Reyes directed the parties to reconvene in court soon.
Two anonymous sources indicated that the Department of Justice had agreed in principle to pay Babbitt’s family just under $5 million. They preferred to remain unnamed due to the ongoing legal discussions.
Before the settlement, the Justice Department assessed that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove Babbitt’s civil rights were violated, asserting that Capitol Police acted lawfully and “might have prevented serious injuries to members and staff.”
However, Babbitt’s family maintained that she was unarmed and posed no threat. The lawsuit emphasized that “Ashli posed no threat to anyone’s safety,” reiterating that she was not involved in illegal activities.
Mark E. Shamel, Bird’s attorney, stated on Monday that according to the latest Supreme Court ruling regarding the use of force, Bird acted as he was supposed to in order to protect the elected officials.
