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.

Full coverage of the settlement can be found here:

• Law & Crime report
• MSN News coverage
• Yahoo News summary

Officer Cleared, Controversy Remains

Lt. Byrd was cleared of any wrongdoing following both internal and federal investigations. Authorities said the officer had reason to believe he was defending himself and others from a credible threat.

Federal prosecutors concluded there was “insufficient evidence” to prove a civil rights violation and cited the need to protect members of Congress and staff.

“The tragic loss of life” was acknowledged, and condolences were extended to the Babbitt family when the investigation closed in 2021.

Political Fallout and Trump's Response

Babbitt’s death quickly became a lightning rod for political debate. Former President Donald Trump has frequently cited Babbitt as a martyr and criticized the circumstances of her death.

“I'm a big fan of Ashli Babbitt, OK, and Ashli Babbitt was a really good person who was a big MAGA fan, Trump fan, and she was innocently standing there — they even say trying to sort of hold back the crowd,” Trump told Newsmax in March.

“And a man did something unthinkable to her when he shot her, and I think it's a disgrace. I'm going to look into that. I did not know that.”

Trump has called for "justice" for Babbitt and described her killing as a "murder"—a claim unsupported by official investigations.

Emergency Hearing Triggered by Legal Dispute

The Friday hearing was called on an emergency basis after a former attorney for Babbitt sought a preliminary injunction to ensure he would be paid for his past work on the case if a settlement was finalized. The court is expected to resolve the attorney payment issue alongside the formal approval of the DOJ agreement.