The Trump administration is about to dish out nearly $5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Ashli Babbitt, a rioter who got shot dead during the U.S. Capitol attack on January 6, as confirmed by sources familiar with the situation. The settlement will put an end to a $30 million lawsuit filed by Babbitt’s estate and the conservative group Judicial Watch, claiming that the Capitol Police officer who shot her while she was trying to break into the House speaker’s lobby was not doing his job properly. The Washington Post was the first to spill the beans on the settlement amount.
The Justice Department declared in April 2021 that U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd was in the clear of any criminal activity in the shooting, after an investigation uncovered no evidence that he “didn’t really think it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber.” Another investigation by the U.S. Capitol Police determined that Byrd’s actions were “lawful and within Department policy” and that he wouldn’t face any internal consequences. The USCP stated in August 2021 that “The officer’s actions were consistent with the officer’s training and USCP policies and procedures,” highlighting that his actions potentially saved Members and staff from harm during the riot.
Not really sure why this matters, but it wasn’t immediately clear if the settlement would force the Justice Department to change its public stance on Babbitt’s shooting or admit fault on the part of Lt. Byrd or the Capitol Police. Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger expressed his disappointment with the settlement, stating that the DOJ’s investigation in 2021 found no wrongdoing by the police. Trump, who has been a vocal supporter of the Capitol rioters, has often mentioned Babbitt’s death in his speeches. He even pardoned nearly all individuals charged in connection with the attack, describing the investigation into the riot as “a grave national injustice.” Manger criticized the pardons, saying that violent criminals should face consequences for their actions.
Maybe it’s just me, but it’s quite interesting that Trump had no idea about the lawsuit brought by Babbitt’s family, yet he promised to “look into” it during an interview with Newsmax in March. He described Babbitt as a “big MAGA fan” who was shot unfairly while trying to control the crowd. Trump’s involvement in the aftermath of the Capitol attack has been controversial, with many criticizing his pardons and statements regarding the incident. The settlement of the lawsuit brings a sense of closure to Babbitt’s family, but the implications of the settlement on the Justice Department’s stance remain uncertain.
