The Trump administration will pay $5 million to Ashli Babbitt’s family after settling a wrongful death lawsuit over her shooting.
The Trump administration has agreed to pay $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt, a rioter killed during the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
This settlement follows a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Babbitt’s family in 2024, claiming excessive use of force by law enforcement.
Violent Capitol riot shocked nation on January 6th
On January 6, 2021, supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol building.
The violent breach disrupted a joint session of Congress that was certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential election victory.
Rioters smashed windows, vandalized offices, and clashed with law enforcement officers.
The chaos resulted in five deaths, including Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick and Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot inside the building.
Ashli Babbitt’s death sparks controversy and lawsuit
Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran, was unarmed at the time she was shot.
She was reportedly climbing through a broken window leading to the Speaker’s Lobby when a Capitol Police officer fired the fatal shot.
Although the officer was cleared of wrongdoing after an investigation concluded he acted in self-defense, the lawsuit argued otherwise.
The lawsuit claimed the officer gave no warning and that Capitol Police ignored signs of his allegedly dangerous behavior.
Babbitt’s family insisted she posed no threat to anyone’s safety when she was shot.
“Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone,” the lawsuit said.
They sought $30 million in damages for wrongful death, pushing the government to address accountability concerns.
Trump administration pays $5 million to Ashli Babbitt’s family after her wrongful death in Capitol riot
Earlier this month, the Department of Justice reached an agreement in principle to settle the case for $5 million.
Details of the settlement remain confidential, but the payment is seen as an acknowledgment of the family’s claims, despite the officer’s exoneration.
The decision to settle drew criticism from Capitol Police leadership.
Chief Tom Manger expressed deep disappointment, stating the settlement sends a worrying signal to law enforcement officers nationwide.
He warned that it could undermine the morale of those tasked with protecting government institutions and public safety.
“This is extremely disappointing and I completely disagree with the Department of Justice’s decision,” Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a statement to staff, the Washington Post reported.
“This settlement sends a chilling message to law enforcement officers across our nation – especially those who have a protective mission like ours.”
Donald Trump continues to support Ashli Babbitt
President Trump has voiced strong support for Ashli Babbitt in the past.
He described her as “innocently standing there” when she was shot and condemned the officer’s actions as “disgraceful” in an interview with Newsmax.
“And a man did something unthinkable to her when he shot her, and I think it’s a disgrace,” he said.
Trump’s continued defense of Babbitt reflects his broader stance on the events of January 6 and those involved.
After his second inauguration earlier this year, Trump signed several executive orders.
One of them pardoned around 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol riot.
The order framed the pardons as a step toward “national reconciliation” after what Trump characterized as a “grave national injustice.”
Pardons and political fallout post-inauguration
In a post-inauguration press conference, Trump noted many pardoned individuals had already endured harsh prison time for their Capitol riot.
He described the prison conditions as “disgusting” and “inhumane,” reinforcing his view that these individuals had been unfairly treated.
The pardons and the settlement together highlight the ongoing political and legal complexities surrounding the January 6 attack.
An executive order on The White House’s website reads: “This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation.”
