The family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, reached a preliminary settlement with the U.S. government in their $30 million wrongful death lawsuit. The agreement was announced on May 2, 2025, during a court hearing, with attorneys for Babbitt’s family confirming an "agreement in principle." Details of the settlement have not been disclosed. The lawsuit, filed by Judicial Watch on behalf of Babbitt’s husband, Aaron, and her estate, alleged that Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd was negligent, claiming Babbitt was unarmed and posed no threat when shot while attempting to climb through a broken window into the Speaker’s Lobby. The case was set for trial in July 2026, but the settlement could resolve it earlier.
