During an emergency hearing on Friday afternoon, Joseph Gonzalez, representing the Department of Justice, and Robert Sticht, counsel for Aaron Babbitt, announced the settlement, as reported by CBS News.
The confidential settlement was reached in a $30 million lawsuit initiated by the conservative advocacy organization Judicial Watch on behalf of the Babitt estate.
The plaintiffs stated in the lawsuit that Ashli was unarmed, with her hands raised and clearly visible to Lt. Michael Byrd of the Capitol Police and other officers in the lobby, asserting that Ashli did not pose a threat to anyone’s safety.
Kyle Cheney from Politico was one of the initial reporters on the settlement.
An ex-attorney representing the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer while attempting to enter through a window adjacent to the House chamber on January 6, has stated that a national journalist notified him yesterday that a financial settlement has been achieved.
The Department of Justice, under the administration of former President Joe Biden, supported the measures taken by Byrd against Babbitt.
Ms. Babbitt trespassed into the Capitol unlawfully. She proceeded to the east entrance of the Speaker’s Lobby, which is located directly behind the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Joint Sessions of Congress take place. Despite officers barricading the Speaker’s Lobby doors with substantial furniture, protesters managed to shatter the glass panels of the lobby doors and the corresponding sidelights on both sides of the doors, as previously reported by the department.
Michael Byrd, a lieutenant with the U.S. Capitol Police, was stationed on the opposite side of the lobby doors. When Ms. Babbitt, who was carrying a backpack, attempted to enter the Speaker’s Lobby through a sidelight, Lt. Byrd shot her fatally, as stated by the DOJ.
In April 2021, the department concluded its investigation into Byrd. It is important to note that Byrd, an individual of African descent, had been a source of disciplinary concerns for the Capitol Police and exhibited significant deficiencies in job performance.
Captain Michael Byrd’s background revealed several concerns, including an unsuccessful shotgun qualification test, a failed FBI background check for a firearm purchase, a 33-day suspension due to a lost weapon, and a referral to Maryland state prosecutors for discharging his firearm at a stolen vehicle that was fleeing his neighborhood, as reported by congressional and police documents acquired by Just the News.
In August, a federal judge mandated the Biden Justice Department to furnish responses concerning the shooting of Ashli Babbitt in relation to the lawsuit initiated by her husband.
In a development indicating that the lawsuit initiated by Babbitt’s estate and Judicial Watch, based in Washington, has received approval, U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes has granted the government a month to respond to four out of the seven allegations presented in the case, as reported by the Washington Examiner.
The four cases encompass the count of ‘wrongful’ deaths, along with claims of negligence, assault, and battery against Byrd, as further reported by the outlet.
The judge also noted that she would take into account further requests from Judicial Watch to relocate the trial to San Diego, the residence of Babbitt’s husband. According to the report, the case was originally moved to Washington, where the majority of January 6th cases have been processed.
The family of Ashli Babbitt is elated that the $30 million wrongful death lawsuit regarding her unjust killing is progressing rapidly, as stated by Tom Fitton, President of Judicial Watch.
Ashli Babbitt, a distinguished veteran of the Air Force and a security forces controller, journeyed to Washington to participate in the Save America rally on January 6 at the Ellipse, where former President Trump delivered a speech. The Examiner noted that she had no affiliation with any protest organization.
The lawsuit accused Byrd of being responsible for Babbitt’s death, claiming that he lacked proper training, did not adhere to safety protocols, and failed to issue a warning prior to the shooting.
