The family of Ashli Babbitt, the unarmed Air Force veteran fatally shot during the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot, is set to receive nearly $5 million in a legal settlement with the Trump administration. 

The decision follows a lawsuit filed by Babbitt’s estate and Judicial Watch, alleging negligence by U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd, the officer who shot her.

The case, filed during the Biden administration, alleged that Byrd used excessive force when he shot the unarmed woman. Officials recently confirmed to a federal judge that an agreement had been reached in principle.
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Background: The Fatal Shooting of Ashli Babbitt

On January 6, 2021, during the violent breach of the Capitol, Ashli Babbitt, a staunch Trump supporter and U.S. Air Force veteran, was shot while attempting to climb through a barricaded window. Capitol Police had secured the Speaker's Lobby to protect lawmakers evacuating the House chamber.

A statement from the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) later defended Byrd’s actions:

“The actions of the officer in this case potentially saved Members and staff from serious injury and possible death... The officer's actions were consistent with USCP training and policies.”

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In April 2021, the Justice Department cleared Byrd of any criminal wrongdoing, stating that there was no evidence he “did not reasonably believe that it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others.”

Settlement Details and Reactions

The $30 million lawsuit brought by Babbitt’s estate was quietly resolved with a $5 million settlement. It is unclear whether this agreement includes any change in the government’s stance or an admission of wrongdoing.

Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger expressed strong disapproval:

“I am extremely disappointed and disagree with this settlement. The DOJ investigation determined no wrongdoing by police. This sends a chilling message to law enforcement nationwide.”

Meanwhile, Judicial Watch, the conservative legal group involved in the lawsuit, has not commented publicly on the settlement’s implications.

Trump’s Response: Praise and Pardon

Former President Donald Trump has long championed Babbitt as a martyr. Speaking to Newsmax in March, he expressed surprise at the lawsuit:

“I'm a big fan of Ashli Babbitt... she was innocently standing there... and a man did something unthinkable to her when he shot her. I think it's a disgrace. I'm going to look into that.”

🔗 Trump’s Newsmax interview

Upon taking office in 2025, Trump issued a sweeping pardon for approximately 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol riot. He called the DOJ’s investigation “a grave national injustice.”

Capitol Police Chief Manger condemned the pardons, saying:

“Letting violent criminals who attacked police officers off the hook... should be met with consequences, condemnation, and accountability.”

Questions Remain

Though the settlement closes a major chapter in the legal battle over Babbitt’s death, it also opens new debates over police accountability, government transparency, and political influence in the legal process.

Whether the Justice Department will alter its public position remains uncertain, and both the DOJ and Babbitt family attorneys declined to comment.

As the nation continues to process the aftermath of January 6, Ashli Babbitt’s death and this multimillion-dollar settlement remain deeply symbolic — reflecting the political divisions that still shape the American landscape.