Ashli Babbitt’s estate, DOJ move to settle $30M wrongful death lawsuit
SUMMARY
The Department of Justice has reached a preliminary settlement with the family of Ashli Babbitt, the unarmed Air Force veteran fatally shot by Capitol Police on January 6th at the Capitol. Babbitt’s estate filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit in 2024, claiming she was unjustly killed by Lt. Michael Byrd as she attempted to enter the Speaker’s Lobby. Both parties told a DC federal judge that a formal agreement is expected within weeks. Babbitt, a San Diego native and Trump supporter, served 14 years in the Air Force with deployments in the Middle East. She was struck once in the shoulder and died at the hospital. Despite an internal investigation clearing Byrd, the case remains a flashpoint. President Trump has voiced support for Babbitt’s family and pledged to look into compensation for January 6 prisoners. If finalized, the settlement would mark the first major acknowledgment from the federal government of the lasting controversy surrounding Babbitt’s death.
