Air Force to provide military funeral honors for January 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt.
The United States Air Force has formally extended an offer of full military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran who was fatally shot by law enforcement during the January 6 Capitol riots in 2021. Under Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier announced this decision via social media, characterizing it as a long-awaited correction to a previous ruling that had denied Babbitt military honors posthumously.
Lohmeier noted that a review of Babbitt’s circumstances and new information that has emerged since the incident led him to believe that the earlier determination regarding her military honors was incorrect. He invited Babbitt’s family to meet with him at the Pentagon to convey his personal condolences. While specific details about the honors remain unspecified, military funeral honors generally include a uniformed detail at the service, the playing of “Taps,” and the ceremonial folding and presentation of the U.S. flag.
Babbitt found herself at the center of national controversy when she participated in the protests aimed at preventing the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory over Donald Trump. During the chaos, Babbitt, who was wrapped in a Trump flag, attempted to enter the Speaker’s Lobby by climbing through a broken window when she was shot by Capitol Police Lieutenant Michael Byrd. Following an investigation, Byrd was cleared of all liability by federal prosecutors and an internal inquiry conducted by the Capitol Police.
In addition to the military honors offer, it was revealed that in May, the Trump administration reached a settlement for nearly million to resolve a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Babbitt’s family following her shooting. This settlement has sparked further discussion about the implications of the events surrounding the Capitol riots and the ongoing political divisions in the nation.
Babbitt served in the Air Force from 2004 to 2008 and continued her military career in the Reserves and National Guard until 2016. Her service included deployments to various conflict zones, including Afghanistan and Iraq. At the time of her death, Babbitt was 35 years old.
This development regarding Babbitt’s honors reflects a broader narrative surrounding the events of January 6, which continues to resonate through American political and social discussions.
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