Particle.news
Download on the App Store
18 ARTICLES
·
3d ago

Settlement in Principle Reached in Ashli Babbitt Wrongful Death Lawsuit

The Justice Department and Babbitt’s family confirmed an agreement to resolve the $30 million lawsuit over her Jan. 6 shooting, though terms remain under negotiation.

Image
FILE - Micki Witthoeft, center, mother of Ashli Babbitt, the woman fatally shot by police inside the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, joins protesters outside of the Supreme Court on the second anniversary of the Jan. 6, assault on the U.S. Capitol, in Washington,, Jan. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
A portrait of Ashli Babbitt who was shot dead during the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, hangs on a fence on the first anniversary of the event outside the Capitol, in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 6, 2022. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

Overview

  • The U.S. government and Ashli Babbitt’s estate have reached a settlement in principle to resolve the wrongful death lawsuit filed in January 2024, seeking $30 million.
  • During a May 2 emergency hearing, attorneys for both sides confirmed the agreement but noted that no final deal has been signed, with terms still in flux.
  • Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran and Trump supporter, was fatally shot by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot as she attempted to climb through a barricaded window near the House chamber.
  • Internal investigations by the Capitol Police and the U.S. Attorney’s Office cleared Lt. Byrd of wrongdoing, concluding his actions were lawful and potentially lifesaving.
  • The settlement is expected to result in the dismissal of the lawsuit with prejudice, with both parties bearing their own legal costs and fees.