Trump’s DOJ agrees to settlement with family of Ashli Babbitt, rioter killed on Jan. 6

From MSNBC:

The Justice Department has reached a settlement in principle with the family of Ashli Babbitt, the Jan. 6 rioter who was fatally shot by a police officer during the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. DOJ lawyers and Babbitt’s estate revealed the agreement during a court hearing Friday. The amount of the settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit was not disclosed.

The $30 million lawsuit, brought by Babbitt’s family and the conservative group Judicial Watch, alleges that U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd was negligent when he fired his gun as Babbitt and other rioters tried to break through doors leading toward the lobby of the House chamber on Jan. 6, 2021. The lawsuit accused Byrd of ambushing Babbitt and claimed he was not in uniform, did not identify himself as an officer, and did not provide “any warnings or commands” before shooting.

Following an internal investigation, both the Justice Department and the Capitol Police cleared Byrd of any wrongdoing. The DOJ said investigators had examined video footage, physical evidence from the scene, autopsy results and statements from officers and witnesses.

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