Settlement Achieved in Ashli Babbitt Case Related to January 6 Incident

Negotiations have culminated in a settlement between government authorities and the relatives of Ashli Babbitt, a supporter of former President Trump who was fatally shot as she attempted to access restricted areas within the Capitol building on January 6, 2021.

Sources familiar with the matter informed CBS News that a settlement has been agreed in principle, while official signatures are still pending. During a recent court session, an attorney representing the plaintiffs indicated that an agreement had been reached, thereby circumventing the need for a trial and other legal processes initiated by Judicial Watch on behalf of Babbitt's estate.

The demise of Babbitt became emblematic for those aligned with Trump and participants in the Capitol breach, who argued that law enforcement responded with undue aggression on January 6. The lawsuit filed claimed that Lieutenant Michael Byrd of the Capitol Police acted negligently in his use of force, highlighting that he was masked and not in uniform during the incident. The complaint accused Byrd of neglecting to employ de-escalation tactics.

According to the suit, "Ashli was unarmed and had raised hands clearly visible to Lt. Byrd and other personnel. She was not a direct threat to anyone's safety."

Originally lodged in California, the legal proceedings were later moved to the federal court in Washington, D.C., where the Department of Justice under President Biden defended the case.

In a legal defense submitted in 2024, the Justice Department contended that Babbitt unlawfully breached the Capitol, reaching the Speaker's Lobby's eastern entrance. Despite barriers set up by officers, the crowd broke the glass of entry doors and adjacent windows. As Babbitt, wearing a backpack, attempted to enter through an adjacent window panel, she was shot by Lt. Byrd.

An August 2021 investigation conducted by the Capitol Police concluded that Byrd's actions were justified and possibly life-saving, with no misconduct identified. Their report emphasized that the officer's decisions, although resulting in lethal force, were crucial to preventing potential harm to lawmakers and staff from a large group intent on disruption.

Visual evidence from January 6 captured Babbitt trying to navigate through a broken window while rioters endeavored to gain access to the Speaker's Lobby, interrupting electoral vote proceedings. Congress members were actively being evacuated during the turmoil.