The Trump administration just did—agreeing to a $5 million settlement with the family of Ashli Babbitt.
The Air Force veteran was fatally shot while storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Babbitt was caught on camera trying to climb through a shattered door into the House chamber as lawmakers scrambled to safety.
That’s when Capitol Police officer Michael Byrd fired a single shot. She later died in the hospital.
Byrd was cleared by multiple investigations, with officials saying his actions saved lives.
Why The Payout?
Her family, backed by conservative group Judicial Watch, filed a $30 million wrongful death suit.
They argued she was unarmed, hands raised, and didn’t deserve to die.
The Justice Department didn’t admit wrongdoing—but they did cut a check.
Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt was shot by a Capitol police officer when she attempted to storm the House Speaker’s Lobby on Jan. 6, 2021.
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger isn’t hiding his anger.
“This sends a chilling message to law enforcement,” he said, worried officers might now hesitate in life-or-death situations.
Trump, unsurprisingly, is calling Babbitt a victim.
“She was innocently standing there,” he said in March. “It’s a disgrace.”
One thing’s clear: nearly four years later, January 6 is still a scar—and now, it’s an expensive one.
