Congressional Democrats and the Capitol Police are slamming the Trump administration’s move to settle a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of Ashli Babbitt, the Jan. 6, 2021, rioter who was shot and killed by a Capitol Police officer.
“What type of message does it send to people who defended the Capitol? It’s horrible that Ashli Babbitt lost her life that day. And it’s horrible that her mother has to grieve her,” former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn said this month, after news of the tentative settlement broke. “But that day could’ve been avoided if Donald Trump didn’t send a mob to attack police officers at the Capitol.”
The settlement in principle was confirmed by attorneys during a court hearing early this month, though negotiations were still not final. The wrongful death suit was filed by Judicial Watch, a conservative activist group, on behalf of Babbitt’s estate. The plaintiffs initially sought $30 million in damages.
