The Trump administration has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was killed by a U.S. Capitol Police officer during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The payment is part of a settlement to end a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit filed by her family, according to a source familiar with the case.
While the settlement still needs court approval, both sides confirmed during a May 2 hearing that they had come to an agreement covering all aspects of the lawsuit. The settlement amount was first reported by The Washington Post.
Babbitt was shot as she tried to climb through a broken window near the Speaker’s Lobby just outside the House chamber. The officer who shot her was cleared of criminal charges. In April 2021, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia stated there was “no evidence to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that the officer willfully” used unlawful force. The Justice Department also concluded there was no evidence the officer didn’t “reasonably believe that it was necessary to do so in self-defense or in defense of the Members of Congress and others evacuating the House Chamber.”
Although the officer faced no criminal charges, civil lawsuits like the one from Babbitt’s family follow different legal standards.
Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger criticized the settlement, saying, “In 2021, the DOJ investigation determined no wrongdoing by police. This settlement sends a chilling message to law enforcement nationwide, especially to those with a protective mission like ours.”
CNN has reached out to attorneys for both Babbitt’s estate and the Justice Department for comment.
COMMENTARY:
Here is a 10-paragraph commentary expressing the view that Ashli Babbitt’s family should receive more compensation and that the officer involved should face criminal charges:
The $5 million settlement awarded to Ashli Babbitt’s family is far from justice. While it may seem like a large sum, it is a small price to pay for a human life — especially when that life was taken by an agent of the government under highly questionable circumstances. Babbitt, an unarmed woman, was shot dead by a Capitol Police officer during the chaos of January 6, and regardless of anyone’s political views, her killing demands deeper scrutiny.
Ashli Babbitt was not armed. She did not attack anyone, nor did she pose a direct and immediate lethal threat. Yes, she was unlawfully inside the Capitol and attempting to climb through a broken window — but shooting to kill without a verbal warning or attempt to deescalate is not acceptable use of force in a civilized society. The officer pulled the trigger and ended her life instantly, without a second chance or any visible effort to restrain her by non-lethal means.
The Department of Justice may have cleared the officer of criminal charges, but that doesn’t mean the action was right. The law often protects those in power, especially when political pressure influences investigations. But common sense and conscience suggest that this shooting could — and should — be classified at the very least as voluntary manslaughter. The officer’s actions were not those of a man defending himself from a clear and present danger, but of someone making a hasty, deadly decision.
It is especially disturbing that the officer faced no trial, no grand jury, no public accountability whatsoever. There was no open debate, no transparency in the investigation, and no opportunity for the American people to hear both sides under oath. If a private citizen had shot someone under these circumstances, they would likely be facing trial — not walking away with official praise.
Meanwhile, Babbitt’s family has to live with the pain of knowing that her death was brushed aside by the institutions that should be protecting civil liberties. The government offered them $5 million to make the case go away, but that figure does not begin to cover the emotional and moral damage caused by the loss of their daughter and by the blatant double standard in law enforcement accountability.
The fact that Babbitt was a Trump supporter should not matter. Every American, no matter their political beliefs, deserves equal protection under the law — and that includes due process before facing deadly force. If Babbitt’s roles were reversed, and a law enforcement officer had been killed by a protester under similar conditions, the charges would likely be murder. The standard must be consistent.
What message does this send to the rest of the country? That it’s acceptable for law enforcement to kill unarmed citizens during politically charged events without facing consequences? That’s a dangerous precedent, and it undermines the trust Americans have in both justice and law enforcement. We can’t allow one side of the political divide to be granted immunity while the other is demonized.
Some may argue that the officer was protecting lawmakers, but protection does not equal permission to kill on sight. Babbitt was alone at the window. There were other officers nearby, and the situation could have been contained with non-lethal tactics. The hasty use of deadly force was not only unnecessary, but arguably unlawful. It should be investigated again, this time without political bias or interference.
In addition, $5 million is not enough to hold the system accountable. The lawsuit originally sought $30 million, and that amount was likely based on the value of her life and the egregiousness of the shooting. Settling for one-sixth of that not only shortchanges the family but also diminishes the seriousness of what happened. The officer still walks free, and the government escapes a deeper reckoning.
If we want a just and free society, we must hold everyone accountable to the same legal standards — including those with a badge. Ashli Babbitt’s death should not be ignored, minimized, or politicized. Her family deserves more compensation, and the officer who killed her deserves to face a courtroom like any other citizen would. Justice demands it.
ARTICLE:
https://share.newsbreak.com/d5pam5ld?s=i16
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