Family of Capitol stormer Ashli Babbitt to receive financial settlement from the U.S. government.
The family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by law enforcement during the January 6 Capitol riots, has reportedly reached a settlement with the Department of Justice regarding a civil lawsuit they filed against the government. The lawsuit sought million on behalf of Babbitt’s estate after U.S. Capitol Police Lieutenant Michael Byrd shot her while she attempted to breach a barricaded area within the Capitol building.
Sources from Media News Source indicate that a settlement in principle was confirmed by attorneys representing both Babbitt’s estate and the Department of Justice on a recent Friday. However, terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, and no formal contract has yet been executed.
The controversy surrounding Babbitt’s death continues to evoke strong sentiments. Her legal representatives argued that she was unarmed and that Byrd did not engage in sufficient de-escalation tactics leading up to the shooting. The officer asserted that his actions were a necessary last resort, executed as Babbitt was climbing through a broken door amidst escalating violence from Trump supporters storming the Capitol to disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
While many observers view Babbitt’s death as a consequence of her own choices during a highly charged situation, she has become a symbolic figure among some factions of the far-right. A 36-year-old Air Force veteran, Babbitt was vocal about her support for Donald Trump and perpetuated various conspiracy theories on social media, particularly those asserting that the 2020 election had been stolen from the former president, a claim that lacks substantiated evidence.
In the wake of the Capitol riots, which resulted in over 1,500 individuals facing criminal charges, a significant segment of Trump supporters still honors Babbitt as a martyr. In a video message recorded on her birthday in October 2021, Trump referred to her as deserving of “justice,” affirming her legacy within the MAGA movement.
The events surrounding January 6 have left a lasting impact on American political discourse and law enforcement protocols, prompting debates over accountability, the extremities of political allegiance, and the nature of civil rights in a democratic society. As discussions regarding the Capitol riots continue, the outcomes of lawsuits and settlements like the one reached concerning Babbitt’s estate will likely resonate in the broader context of accountability and justice in the United States.
