(NEXSTAR) – The U.S. government has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt, the Jan. 6 rioter who was fatally shot by police during the 2021 attack on the Capitol, according to multiple reports.
The Washington Post first reported the settlement, citing two people “briefed on the matter” who said the Trump administration has agreed to the settlement, with roughly one-third of the money going to the lawyers representing Babbitt’s family.
Tom Manger, the outgoing U.S. Capitol police chief, also confirmed the settlement news to CBS, adding that he told the police force he was “extremely disappointed” and that he disagreed with the Department of Justice’s decision.
The settlement follows a $30 million lawsuit Babbitt’s family filed last year.
Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego, was unarmed when she was shot by the police lieutenant when she tried to climb through the door as others in the mob pressed to get into the lobby outside the House chamber.
The lawsuit alleged that the officer, who was not in uniform, failed to de-escalate the situation and did not give her any warnings or commands before opening fire. It also alleged negligence on the part of Capitol Police. The lawsuit said the department “should have known” that the officer was “prone to behave in a dangerous or otherwise incompetent manner.”
“Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone,” the lawsuit said.
The Capitol Police officer said in a televised interview that he fired as a “last resort.” When he pulled the trigger, he said, he had no idea whether the person jumping through the window was armed.
President Donald Trump in January pardoned, commuted the prison sentences, or ordered the dismissal of all of the cases of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the riot.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
