An agreement has been tentatively reached in a high-profile wrongful death lawsuit following the tragic events of the U.S. Capitol riot. Ashli Babbitt’s family, who filed the lawsuit, and the Justice Department have agreed in principle to a settlement related to Babbitt’s fatal shooting during the incident, according to statements made in a Washington federal court.
The details of the settlement, which are yet to be finalized, remain undisclosed as of now. Babbitt’s estate originally sought $30 million, arguing that her death was wrongful. Babbitt was shot by a Capitol Police officer on January 6, 2021, as she attempted to breach a barricaded door leading to the Speaker’s Lobby. The officer was later exonerated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, which determined that the shooting was an act of self-defense and to protect members of Congress. The Capitol Police also cleared the officer.
Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was unarmed at the time she was shot. Her estate contends in the lawsuit that the officer, who was not wearing a uniform, did not attempt to de-escalate the situation or issue any warnings before firing. The lawsuit also claims negligence on the part of the Capitol Police, suggesting the department should have been aware of the officer’s alleged propensity for dangerous behavior.
The lawsuit asserts, “Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone.” The officer involved has stated in a televised interview that shooting Babbitt was a “last resort,” and he was unaware if she was armed at the time.
Neither Capitol Police officials nor an attorney for Babbitt’s estate have responded to requests for comment. In a related matter, President Donald Trump in January pardoned or dismissed charges against over 1,500 individuals implicated in crimes during the riot, as reported by AP News.
