The Trump administration has reached a $5 million settlement with the family of Ashli Babbitt, the unarmed Air Force veteran who was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer during the January 6, 2021, protest at the U.S. Capitol.
Babbitt was attempting to enter the Speaker’s Lobby when she was shot by Lt. Michael Byrd. Her death quickly became one of the most controversial and politicized moments of the day. The settlement follows a wrongful death lawsuit filed by her family, which originally sought $30 million in damages.
The lawsuit argued that Babbitt posed no lethal threat when she was shot and that deadly force was unjustified. Although both the Department of Justice and Capitol Police previously cleared Lt. Byrd of criminal wrongdoing, the civil case gained traction as evidence and public pressure mounted over the use of force against an unarmed American citizen.
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger voiced frustration with the decision to settle, reportedly stating he disagreed with the outcome and believed the officer acted in line with department protocols. Despite those claims, the administration opted to avoid a prolonged legal battle by resolving the matter through a financial agreement.
Roughly one-third of the settlement will go to Babbitt’s legal team, which includes the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch. The remaining funds will go to her family, who have consistently argued that her killing was politically motivated and preventable.
The decision to settle has reignited public debate over the federal government’s handling of January 6—particularly the stark contrast in how different incidents from that day have been prosecuted, reported, or in this case, financially resolved.
For many on the right, Babbitt’s death remains a symbol of double standards and selective justice. Her supporters argue that while violent agitators on the left are often treated with leniency, Babbitt—a veteran and protester—was met with deadly force without warning or accountability.
This settlement, while not an admission of guilt, represents a rare and significant acknowledgment by the federal government that raises further questions about the decisions made during one of the most scrutinized events in modern American history.
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