The United States federal government has agreed to a $5 million settlement with the family of Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran and Trump supporter who was fatally shot by Capitol Police during the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach. This development, initially reported by the Washington Post, has reignited the debate over the use of force during the chaotic events of that day.
Ashli Babbitt was shot by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd as she attempted to climb through a broken window leading to the Speaker's Lobby inside the Capitol. Babbitt's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Biden administration earlier this year, asserting that she was unarmed and posed no immediate threat when she was shot.
The lawsuit claimed that Babbitt had her "hands up in the air, empty, and in plain view" of Lt. Byrd and other officers on the scene. These assertions challenge the federal narrative, which had previously cleared Lt. Byrd of any wrongdoing after internal investigations by the Capitol Police and a prior assessment by the Biden Justice Department that Byrd acted in self-defense and did not violate Babbitt’s constitutional rights.
Complicating matters further, recent reports have surfaced detailing a questionable history of disciplinary issues related to Lt. Byrd, including failed firearms tests and an unsuccessful FBI background check. Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA), chairman of the House Administration Subcommittee on Oversight, expressed concerns about Byrd's promotion to captain in light of this history.
The settlement raises substantial questions about the consistency of the government's handling of January 6-related incidents and the standards applied to those involved. It also comes after former President Donald Trump expressed his intention to resolve the lawsuit in favor of Babbitt's family if re-elected, citing a pursuit of justice for individuals he believes were treated unfairly during the protests.
Social media reactions have been divided, with some, like Twitter user Paul A. Szypula, pointing out the perceived inconsistencies in responses to different incidents involving law enforcement. The comparison between the treatment of Babbitt's case and that of George Floyd's has been particularly contentious.
As the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of January 6, this settlement not only brings closure to one family's tragic loss but also prompts a broader discussion about accountability, procedural transparency, and the standards governing the use of force by law enforcement officials during periods of civil unrest.
