The DOJ agrees to pay $5 million to Ashli Babbitt’s family, despite clearing the Capitol officer of wrongdoing in her 2021 shooting.

Settlement Reached in High-Profile Capitol Riot Fatality

The Department of Justice has agreed in principle to pay $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt, the Air Force veteran who was fatally shot during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The settlement, disclosed during a court hearing on Friday, comes after Babbitt’s estate filed a $30 million lawsuit last year.

Attorneys representing both the Justice Department and Babbitt’s estate informed the court that they had reached a tentative agreement to resolve the civil case. Specific terms beyond the amount were not disclosed publicly as the final settlement awaits formalization.

Babbitt was among a group of President Donald Trump’s supporters who breached the Capitol building on the day Congress convened to certify Joe Biden’s election victory. The fatal shooting occurred when Babbitt attempted to climb through a shattered window in a barricaded door outside the Speaker’s Lobby, a secure area near the House chamber.

Video footage shared widely on social media captured the moment Babbitt, draped in a Trump flag and wearing a stars-and-stripes backpack, was shot as she began to climb through the opening. She fell backward after a single gunshot rang out. Bystanders attempted to assist her, but she was later pronounced dead at Washington Hospital Center.

The officer who discharged his weapon was later identified as a Capitol Police officer tasked with protecting members of Congress. Following investigations, both the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Capitol Police cleared him of any wrongdoing, concluding the shooting was justified and conducted in defense of others.

Capitol Police Chief Condemns Settlement

Despite the legal clearance, the settlement drew sharp criticism from U.S. Capitol Police Chief J. Thomas Manger. In an internal message to his department, Manger expressed strong disappointment, citing concerns about the precedent the agreement may set.

“In 2021, the DOJ said that there was no evidence to show that law enforcement broke the law,” Manger stated. “After a thorough investigation, it was determined to be a justified shooting. This settlement sends a chilling message to law enforcement officers across our nation — especially those who have a protective mission like ours.”

While settlements do not imply an admission of liability, the agreement is likely to renew public and political debate surrounding the events of January 6 and the use of force during the Capitol breach.

Babbitt’s husband, Aaron Babbitt, has maintained that his wife’s death was unjustified and politically charged. He filed the civil suit on behalf of her estate, seeking $30 million in damages for the fatal use of force against her.

The settlement now awaits court approval before being finalized. No further comments have been issued by the DOJ or the plaintiffs following Friday’s proceedings.