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.”
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.
