Report: Here Are the Details on That Ashli Babbitt Settlement

At the beginning of the month, the government indicated that they had reached a settlement in principle with the family of Ashli Babbitt in a lawsuit over her shooting death at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Now the word is out on the settlement that has been reached. According to sources who spoke to The Washington Post, the Trump administration has agreed to pay close to $5 million to the family.

Two people briefed on the matter said the Justice Department has agreed in principle to pay just under $5 million to Babbitt’s family, with about one-third to go to their attorneys, who include the conservative group Judicial Watch and Alexandria, Virginia, lawyer Richard Driscoll. The two people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a pending court matter.

That's about 1/6 of what the family was asking for in the lawsuit, $30 million. The family filed the action in early 2024.

Last year, Babbitt’s family filed suit against the federal government, alleging excessive force and seeking damages over her death. The suit was set to go to trial next summer.
The family claimed in the suit that Babbitt was not a threat:
Lt. Byrd later confessed that he shot Ashli before seeing her hands or assessing her intentions or even identifying her as female. Ashli was unarmed. Her hands were up in the air, empty, and in plain view of Lt. Byrd and other officers in the lobby. Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone. Not one member of Congress was in the lobby, which was guarded by multiple armed police officers.

This video shows the moment of the shooting when Babbitt was at the Speaker's Lobby window.

Warning for graphic language and actions:

The Trump administration reaches a settlement with the family of Ashli Babbitthttps://t.co/18DHPDIvGn
— Defiant L’s (@DefiantLs) May 2, 2025

The issue I always had with the case was that she didn't hurt or threaten the three police officers she had been standing right next to for several minutes. And that as soon as she was shot and fell back from the window, you could see all the tactical officers arriving on scene. They immediately secured the area.

The Biden Department of Justice and the Capitol Police did not find wrongdoing by the officer.

Outgoing Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger, who took over in July 2021 under Joe Biden, confirmed the report to the media on Monday, saying he was disappointed with the settlement and "disagreed."

Outgoing @CapitolPolice chief Tom Manger confirmed to @CBSNews the Trump administration will pay $5 million to settle a wrongful death suit brought by the family of Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbit.

Manger told me he was "disappointed" and "disagreed" with the settlement.
— Michael Kaplan (@mkaplantv) May 19, 2025

Chief Manger tendered his resignation/retirement in March, saying his last day would be May 2. So I'm not sure why CBS' Michael Kaplan is saying "outgoing."

Folks on the left are losing their minds over the settlement on X.

It's good that the Trump administration is finally settling with the family. I think it should have been done long ago.

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