Ashli Babbitt’s family to receive $5 million in settlement with Trump administration: Sources

The Trump administration has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of Ashli Babbitt, a rioter who was fatally shot during the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Sources familiar with the matter confirmed this development to ABC News on Monday.

The settlement will bring an end to a $30 million lawsuit filed by Babbitt’s estate and the conservative group Judicial Watch, alleging that the Capitol Police officer who shot her as she tried to breach a broken window of the House speaker’s lobby was negligent in his duties. The Washington Post first reported the news of the settlement amount.

In April 2021, the Justice Department cleared U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd of any criminal wrongdoing in the shooting, stating that there was no evidence to suggest that he did not act in self-defense or in defense of Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber. A subsequent investigation by the U.S. Capitol Police determined that Byrd’s actions were lawful and in accordance with department policy.

Despite the settlement, it remains unclear whether the Justice Department will change its public stance on Babbitt’s shooting or acknowledge any fault on the part of Lt. Byrd or the Capitol Police. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger expressed his disappointment with the settlement, stating that it sends a “chilling message to law enforcement nationwide.”

Former President Trump, who has been a vocal supporter of the rioters involved in the Capitol attack, has frequently mentioned Babbitt’s death in his statements. In one of his first acts in office, Trump pardoned nearly all individuals charged in connection with the January 6 attack, describing the Justice Department’s investigation into the riot as a “grave national injustice.”

In a recent interview with Newsmax, Trump expressed his support for Babbitt, calling her a “really good person” and criticizing the officer who shot her. He pledged to look into the lawsuit brought by Babbitt’s family, emphasizing his belief that her shooting was a disgrace.

The settlement of this lawsuit marks a significant development in the aftermath of the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, shedding light on the legal and political implications of the events that unfolded on that fateful day.