On Friday the Department of Justice (DOJ) confirmed a settlement in principle was reached in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Ashli Babbitt, the unarmed Air Force veteran fatally shot by Capitol Police during the events of January 6, 2021.
The lawsuit, spearheaded by Judicial Watch on behalf of the Babbitt family, alleges gross misconduct and longstanding incompetence by Lt. Michael Byrd, the Capitol Police officer who shot Babbitt as she attempted to enter the Speaker’s Lobby near the House chamber.
Judicial Watch has long asserted that Byrd acted recklessly and unjustifiably, and cited a troubling history of misconduct that should have disqualified him from carrying a weapon, let alone making a split-second lethal decision against an unarmed American citizen.
The suit outlines a pattern of documented failures by Lt. Byrd, including:
- Repeated failure to complete mandatory firearms qualifications;
- Leaving a loaded Glock 22—the very weapon used to shoot Babbitt—unattended in a Capitol restroom;
- A prior off-duty incident in which Byrd fired his weapon at a fleeing vehicle, hitting nearby homes.
The lawsuit also cites Byrd’s reputation among fellow officers as someone who was “not a good shot,” further calling into question his fitness for duty and the justification for the fatal shooting.
Judicial Watch initially filed the $30 million lawsuit in January 2024 on behalf of Babbitt’s estate and her husband, Aaron Babbitt, arguing that Ashli posed no legitimate threat to Congress at the time she was gunned down and that Byrd acted in a reckless and unconstitutional manner.
Capitol Accountability or a Quiet Payoff?
While some see the settlement as long-overdue acknowledgment of government wrongdoing, others view it as a strategic move to bury one of the most controversial aspects of the January 6 narrative. Despite video evidence and Babbitt’s unarmed status, the Biden-era Justice Department quickly cleared Byrd of wrongdoing, sparking nationwide outrage—especially among conservatives.
“An unarmed veteran was shot dead by a careless officer with a known record of negligence, and the government tried to pretend it never happened,” said one legal observer following the case. “This settlement doesn’t bring justice, but it does confirm the federal government knew it was vulnerable.”
As news of the settlement broke, courtroom drama ensued. Radical left-wing federal Judge Ana Reyes reportedly shouted at both legal teams, triggering backlash from observers who say Reyes’s conduct reflects the politicization of the federal judiciary.
Legal analyst and journalist Julie Kelly blasted the judge’s outburst online:
“Another tirade. This is why federal court proceedings should be recorded and published online—just like appellate courts and SCOTUS. Reyes needs a rubber room.”
The explosive courtroom behavior underscores the emotional and political weight still surrounding the case. Despite years of establishment media downplaying Babbitt’s death, grassroots Americans have continued to demand answers and accountability.