The U.S. Department of Justice has reached an agreement in principle to settle a lawsuit filed by the family of Ashli Babbitt, the woman fatally shot by a U.S. Capitol Police officer during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
$30 Million Lawsuit Over Fatal Shooting
Babbitt’s family filed the lawsuit in January 2024, seeking $30 million in damages for what they claim was her wrongful death at the hands of Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd.
The lawsuit alleges Babbitt was unjustly shot as she attempted to climb through a broken window outside the Speaker’s Lobby during the riot.
Ashli Babbitt Settlement Due
Though the DOJ under President Biden had shown no intention to settle before Donald Trump returned to office, the legal landscape changed in recent weeks.
On Friday, during an emergency hearing before U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes, Babbitt’s attorneys revealed the parties had reached a tentative settlement. The precise terms were not disclosed.
Robert Sticht, attorney for the Babbitt family, stated during the hearing that he expects the formal agreement to be signed within three weeks.
