Ashli Babbitt settlement: 5 things to know
The Trump administration has agreed to pay just short of $5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Ashli Babbitt’s family after she was shot and killed in the Speaker’s Lobby during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
The a finalized settlement has not been announced, but a person familiar with it confirmed the amount to The Hill.
Babbitt's death became a favored rallying call for President Trump on the campaign trail last year, where he repeatedly said law enforcement acting wrongly when it defended the Capitol from a mob of his supporters.
Here’s what to know about the case:
Settlement resolves Babbitt family lawsuit
The settlement would resolve the $30 million lawsuit that Babbitt’s estate filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. last year.
Lawyers told the federal judge earlier this month that the two sides reached a settlement in principle but were still working out details of the agreement before they could sign the final settlement.
Babbitt’s family had noted in the suit that she was unarmed when she was shot.
Shooting outside of Speaker's Lobby
Babbitt was part of a group of Trump backers that smashed through windows of a barricaded door leading to the Speaker’s Lobby, where Capitol Police officers held off protesters in an effort to buy more time for members of Congress to evacuate to safety.
The Capitol Police officer shot Babbitt in the shoulder as she tried to climb through the broken window of a barricaded door.
Her family alleged the officer failed to take the necessary steps to de-escalate the situation or give any warnings before opening fire.
“Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone,” the lawsuit said.
The family also accused Capitol Police of negligence, saying the department should have known the officer was “prone to behave in a dangerous or otherwise incompetent manner.”
Officer who shot Babbitt was cleared
The U.S. Attorney’s office for D.C. cleared the officer of wrongdoing in the case, concluding he acted in self-defense and in defense of the members of Congress officer in the chamber.
The officer was also cleared by internal probe by the Capitol Police, which concluded he acted lawfully and in accordance with his training and the policy of the department.
Capitol Police leadership condemns settlement
U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger said he was disappointed by news of the settlement, pointing to the Justice Department determination that found no wrongdoing in the matter.
“I am extremely disappointed and disagree with this settlement. In 2021, the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation determined no wrongdoing by police,” Manger said in a statement on Monday.
“This settlement sends a chilling message to law enforcement nationwide, especially to those with a protective mission like ours,” he continued.
Settlement terms haven’t been disclosed
As of Tuesday morning, terms of the settlement have not been published in public court filings. Lawyers for DOJ and Babbitt’s estate both confirmed on May 2 that the settlement had been reached but that details were still being worked out.
The Associated Press contributed.