Fri May 02 19:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Trump Administration Settles Lawsuit Over Ashli Babbitt’s Jan. 6 Death

**Washington, D.C. – May 2, 2025** – The Trump administration has reached a settlement in principle with the family of Ashli Babbitt, the woman shot and killed during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. The settlement, which avoids a trial, resolves a $30 million civil suit filed by Judicial Watch on behalf of Babbitt’s estate.

The lawsuit alleged negligence on the part of U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd, who shot Babbitt as she attempted to climb through a window into the Speaker’s Lobby. The suit claimed Byrd acted negligently, citing his lack of uniform, his use of a COVID mask, and his failure to de-escalate the situation. It asserted Babbitt was unarmed and posed no threat.

The Justice Department, under the Biden administration, defended Byrd, arguing that Babbitt unlawfully entered the Capitol and that Byrd’s actions potentially saved lives. An internal Capitol Police review in 2021 supported this conclusion, stating Byrd’s actions may have prevented serious injury or death to members of Congress and staff.

The settlement comes amidst ongoing controversy surrounding the January 6th events. The Trump administration’s recent blanket pardon of over 1,500 Capitol riot defendants and the firing of prosecutors involved in related cases have been criticized as an attempt to rewrite history and downplay the seriousness of the insurrection. Former Jan. 6 prosecutor Brendan Ballou described these actions as an effort to “whitewash history” and ensure the events of that day are forgotten. Babbitt’s death, a rallying cry for many Trump supporters, has been a central point of contention in the ongoing debate. While the terms of the settlement remain undisclosed, its conclusion brings a definitive end to this highly publicized legal battle.

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