DOJ settles $30m lawsuit with family of Jan. 6 rioter
The US Department of Justice has reached a preliminary agreement with the family of Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran who was killed during the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.
Main points
- The US Department of Justice and the family of Ashli Babbitt have reached a preliminary settlement regarding the wrongful death lawsuit.
- Ashli Babbitt was shot by a Capitol police officer during the riots on January 6, 2021.
- The agreement concerns a $30 million lawsuit filed in 2024.
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the family of Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran and supporter of Donald Trump who was shot by a Capitol police officer during the riots on January 6, 2021, have reached a preliminary settlement. As reported by the "New York Post," attorneys and representatives of Babbitt’s estate informed a federal judge in Washington on Friday that a settlement has been reached in the wrongful death lawsuit.
Ashli Babbitt, along with other Trump supporters, attempted to gain access to the Speaker’s Lobby in the Capitol building. During the riots, while some members of Congress were being evacuated and others were in hiding, Babbitt was shot in the shoulder by Lieutenant Michael Byrd. She died at the hospital.
After an internal investigation, Byrd was cleared of charges, and his actions were deemed self-defense and defense of members of Congress. The Babbitt family filed a lawsuit seeking $30 million in 2024.
Who was Ashli Babbitt?
Ashli Babbitt was from San Diego and served in the Air Force for 14 years, including missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. She was also active on social media, where she expressed her support for Trump and occasionally posted content related to QAnon conspiracy theories. These theories are anti-government in nature and, as the FBI indicates, have the potential to motivate extremists to commit crimes and acts of violence.
The formal signing of the agreement between the Department of Justice and the Babbitt family is expected to take place within the next three weeks. This may conclude the prolonged legal process related to the tragic events of January 6, 2021.
