Capitol Attack: US Government To Pay $5million Compensation Fee To Victim's Family | Sahara Reporters
The Washington Post reports that this development is as the United States government agreed to the compensation package.
The family of Ashli Babbitt, the woman fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer during the January 6, 2021, is expected to get a compensation fee of $5million.
Ashli was shot as she tried to climb through a broken window near the chamber where lawmakers were being evacuated.
The Washington Post reports that this development is as the United States government agreed to the compensation package.
Babbitt, 35, was an Air Force veteran and one of the rioters attempting to breach the House Speaker’s Lobby during the violent effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
The settlement would mean that there would be no courtroom battle.
The officer who discharged his weapon was cleared of any wrongdoing following internal and federal investigations, which concluded that he had acted lawfully and in defence of members of Congress and staff under threat from the advancing mob.
Despite those findings, Babbitt’s estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit in 2024, seeking $30million in damages.
The suit was supported by Judicial Watch, a conservative legal advocacy organisation.
Originally scheduled to go to trial, the case was redirected toward settlement negotiations after Donald Trump returned to the presidency following his 2024 election victory.
Since her death, Babbitt has been portrayed as a martyr by many Trump supporters, with the former president repeatedly describing her as an “innocent” victim and condemning the shooting as unjustified.
As of now, the Justice Department and U.S. Capitol Police have not issued public statements regarding the settlement.
In 2021, the United States Capitol Police said over 50 cops sustained serious injuries during Wednesday’s attack on the Capitol by supporters of US President Donald Trump.
Capitol Police Chief, Steven Sund, who stated this in a statement, said the officers were hospitalised.
The Capitol attack incident happened on January 6, 2021.
