The Trump administration has taken a major step toward settling a high-profile lawsuit involving the death of Ashli Babbitt. Attorneys for her estate and the Justice Department told a Washington federal judge that they reached a preliminary agreement.
Although the deal remains unfinished, both sides confirmed progress in the Capitol shooting settlement case. The final paperwork has not yet been signed, and details remain undisclosed.
Ashli Babbitt’s estate filed the $30 million lawsuit last year. Her family alleges wrongful death during the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Babbitt, an unarmed Air Force veteran, was fatally shot while trying to climb through a broken window.
She attempted to enter the Speaker’s Lobby, a highly restricted area just outside the House chamber. A plainclothes Capitol Police lieutenant fired a single shot that killed her.
Federal prosecutors later reviewed the incident. They cleared the officer, citing self-defense and protection of lawmakers under immediate threat.
Nonetheless, Babbitt’s family continues to dispute that finding. Their lawsuit argues the officer failed to issue a verbal warning before firing. They also claim he acted recklessly and without clear identification as law enforcement.
According to the lawsuit, Capitol Police should have foreseen possible misconduct. The complaint alleges poor oversight and a failure to properly train or supervise the officer involved.
“Ashli posed no threat,” the lawsuit stated, insisting that her actions did not justify lethal force.
Despite the officer’s claim that he fired as a last resort, legal debate continues. He said during a TV interview that he could not confirm if Babbitt was armed.
Meanwhile, Trump’s controversial decision to pardon all January 6 rioters has drawn additional scrutiny. Critics say it sends the wrong message.
Although officials declined to comment Friday, pressure continues to mount around the Capitol shooting settlement case.
As negotiations move forward, legal experts expect this case to influence future actions involving use of force by Capitol Police. The Capitol shooting settlement case has already sparked national discussion on law enforcement accountability and protest-related violence.
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