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Tag: Ashli Babbitt
May 19, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
News

U.S. Govt to Pay Ashli Babbitt’s Family MILLIONS in Major Lawsuit Settlement.

PULSE POINTS:

âť“What Happened: The Trump administration has agreed to a nearly $5 million settlement with the family of Ashli Babbitt, an unarmed Air Force veteran fatally shot during the January 6, 2021, Capitol protests.

đź‘Ą Who’s Involved: Ashli Babbitt’s family, the Trump administration, Judicial Watch, and shooter Michael L. Byrd, of the Capitol Police.

đź“Ť Where & When: U.S. Capitol, Washington, D.C., on January 6, 2021; settlement details reported on May 19, 2025.

⚠️ Impact: The settlement resolves a lawsuit brought by Babbitt’s estate but does not include an admission of wrongdoing by the government.

IN FULL:

The Trump administration has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by a Capitol police officer in the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021. The settlement comes after Babbitt’s family had filed a wrongful death lawsuit last year, demanding $30 million in damages.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) initially opposed the lawsuit, and a trial would have taken place in July of next year. However, both parties announced earlier this month that they had reached a settlement agreement. Judge Ana C. Reyes of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia called on the parties to announce the deal by May 22.

The DOJ has reportedly agreed to pay Babbitt’s family just under $5 million. Notably, initial reports suggesting that a third of the settlement would be paid to the family’s attorneys and Judicial Watch, which assisted with legal counsel, appear to be false. The claims come from sources who spoke anonymously to The Washington Post. Neither the DOJ nor the lawyers for Babbitt’s family immediately confirmed the deal’s details. According to Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton, while the organization cannot yet comment on the actual settlement sum, the group “is not getting a third (or any portion) of any settlement. We are representing Ashil’s family pro bono!”

The deal marks the first sense of justice for Babbitt’s family, over four years since she was shot and killed by Capitol Police officer Michael L. Byrd. Following the fatal shooting, Byrd saw no disciplinary action whatsoever and was even granted over $36,000 in retention funds after the killing. He was also provided with a security detail and temporary lodging at a military facility.

President Donald J. Trump praised Babbitt in March, saying, “Ashli Babbitt was a really good person who was a big MAGA fan, Trump fan. And she was innocently standing there, they even say trying to sort of hold back the crowd, and a man did something to her that was unthinkable when he shot her.”

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January 6, 2025
Jack Montgomery
News

Joe Biden Wrote a J6 Op-Ed… No One Noticed.

Lame-duck President Joe Biden authored an op-ed for the anniversary of the January 6, 2021 protests—or had someone write one in his name—but almost nobody has taken any notice of it. Published in The Washington Post, the article insists that January 6 was not “a protest that just got out of hand” and repeats the lie that “Some police officers ultimately died as a result” of injuries sustained on the day.

In fact, while Officer Brian Sicknick died of a stroke the day after January 6, claims by law enforcement that he had been hit with a fire extinguisher turned out to be false, and he actually died of “natural causes.” The only other police fatalities that some have attempted to connect to January 6 were suicides.

Two protestors died of heart attacks on the day of the attack, and Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt was shot dead by Capitol Police officer Michael Byrd, a known liar, despite being unarmed.

Biden insisted Americans “should commit to remembering Jan. 6, 2021, every year… as a day when our democracy was put to the test and prevailed.”

Even anti-Trump former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst Martin Gurri has argued January 6 was not a coup attempt, noting that “[i]n an insurgency, people with guns shoot at each other and lots of them die,” and there’s “no such thing as an unarmed insurgency.”

American conservatives being the most heavily armed civilians in the world, the fact there was no such gunfighting on January 6 strongly indicates that protestors did not attend the Capitol with an earnest attempt to overthrow the government in mind.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Lame-duck President Joe Biden authored an op-ed for the anniversary of the January 6, 2021 protests—or had someone write one in his name—but almost nobody has taken any notice of it. Published in The Washington Post, the article insists that January 6 was not "a protest that just got out of hand" and repeats the lie that "Some police officers ultimately died as a result" of injuries sustained on the day. show more
December 12, 2024
Crime
News

The Cop Who Shot Ashli Babbitt Left His Post for a Card Game, Then Lied to Investigators.

The Capitol police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt on January 6, 2021, is alleged to have a track record of lying to investigators. Michael L. Byrd, now 56, previously left his post at the Speaker’s Office to join a card game and subsequently provided false information during an internal investigation by Capitol Police’s Internal Affairs Division. However, despite recommendations for termination due to abandoning his post and making untruthful statements, Byrd was not fired.

Recent disclosures about Byrd’s past have raised questions about his 2023 promotion to captain, with concerns expressed by Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) about Byrd’s disciplinary history potentially affecting internal operational decisions.

Records indicate that Byrd received significant financial support and security assistance from Capitol Police following the January 6 killing of Babbitt, with over $36,000 in retention funds and thousands more in reimbursements for security upgrades.

Byrd was provided temporary lodging at a military facility, along with a security detail, and was under consideration for placement at a secure Capitol Police site.

Further scrutiny of Byrd’s record has revealed additional incidents, including a suspension in 2019 for leaving a loaded service weapon unattended in a public area.

Byrd’s financial history, marked by multiple bankruptcies and a significant tax lien, has also been reviewed.

Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) has demanded murder charges to be brought against Byrd over the killing, calling on President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Attorney General pick, Pam Bondi, to bring the charges.

The mother of Ashli Babbitt, meanwhile, has celebrated President Trump’s promise to pardon those still held in custody over the January 6 riots.

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The Capitol police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt on January 6, 2021, is alleged to have a track record of lying to investigators. Michael L. Byrd, now 56, previously left his post at the Speaker's Office to join a card game and subsequently provided false information during an internal investigation by Capitol Police's Internal Affairs Division. However, despite recommendations for termination due to abandoning his post and making untruthful statements, Byrd was not fired. show more
November 12, 2024
Politics

Ashli Babbitt’s Mother Celebrates Trump Pardon Promise for Jan. 6 Rioters.

Following Donald J. Trump‘s election victory last Tuesday, celebrations unfolded early Wednesday outside the Washington, D.C. jail holding individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol riots. Supporters of the President-elect gathered, marking the occasion by opening bottles of champagne and offering toasts in anticipation of potential pardons for those involved in the unrest at the Capitol, which included physical encounters with law enforcement and damage to federal property.

Among the celebrants was Michelle Witthoeft, whose daughter, Ashli Babbitt, was fatally shot during the riot. Witthoeft has been a regular presence outside the jail, maintaining a vigil for her daughter. She expressed enthusiasm about Trump’s return to leadership, stating, “Today was amazing. Woke up with the president of the United States, the rightful president back in his spot. And today, after 828 days, we’re going to pop some champagne and raise a glass to President Trump.”

TRUMP BACKS PARDONS.

Trump campaigned on a platform that included pardoning January 6 defendants, whom he has described as “hostages” and “political prisoners.” In March, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to demand, “Free the January 6 Hostages being wrongfully imprisoned!” He reiterated his stance on potential pardons during a forum in Chicago hosted by the National Association of Black Journalists. When asked if he would issue pardons, Trump replied, “Oh, absolutely, I would. If they’re innocent, I would pardon them.”

Despite his broad commitment, Trump has acknowledged that not all cases may qualify for pardons, indicating they would be reviewed individually. During a CNN town hall, he commented, “I am inclined to pardon many of them. I can’t say for every single one, because a couple of them probably got out of control.”

This past summer, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that President Joe Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) overreached when using 18 U.S. Code § 1512(c)(2) to apply enhanced sentences to the January 6 defendants. Subsequently, several have seen their sentences either reduced or been released for time served.

Image by Elvert Barnes. 

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Following Donald J. Trump's election victory last Tuesday, celebrations unfolded early Wednesday outside the Washington, D.C. jail holding individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol riots. Supporters of the President-elect gathered, marking the occasion by opening bottles of champagne and offering toasts in anticipation of potential pardons for those involved in the unrest at the Capitol, which included physical encounters with law enforcement and damage to federal property. show more
April 30, 2024
William Upton
Lawfare
Politics

Trump: ‘I’d Consider Pardon for EVERY J6 Prisoner.’

Former President Donald J. Trump says he would consider a pardon for each of the January 6 defendants either currently imprisoned or being prosecuted by the Biden government. The former President made the commitment during a recent interview, lamenting what he sees as a ‘two-tier justice system.’

“[W]hen I look at Portland, when I look at Minneapolis, where they took over police precincts and everything else, and went after federal buildings, when I look at other situations that were violent, and where people were killed, nothing happened to them,” Trump said during an interview with TIME Magazine. He continued: “Nothing happened to them. I think it’s a two-tier system of justice. I think it’s a very, very sad thing.”

The former Republican President went on to note that the only individual who died as a direct result of the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol building was protestor Ashli Babbitt. Last November, the Black Lives Matter activist — John Sullivan, a.k.a Jayden X— who filmed Babbitt’s death inside the Capitol, was convicted for his role in inciting protestors to riot. The National Pulse previously reported in January that Babbitt’s family has filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit against Capitol Police Officer Lt. Michael Byrd.

Representative Clay Higgins (R-LA) recently claimed that his investigation into the events leading up to the January 6 riots suggests federal law enforcement may have played a more significant role in instigating the violence than previously stated. The Louisiana Republican said he’d uncovered evidence that federal agents were active in online chat groups with U.S. military veterans prior to their involvement in the protest that day.

Currently, the U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether Biden’s Department of Justice has abused a financial crimes statute to enhance the felony ‘obstruction‘ charges against the rioters.

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Former President Donald J. Trump says he would consider a pardon for each of the January 6 defendants either currently imprisoned or being prosecuted by the Biden government. The former President made the commitment during a recent interview, lamenting what he sees as a 'two-tier justice system.' show more
January 9, 2024
News

Ashli Babbitt’s Family Files $30 Million Wrongful-Death Suit.

The family of Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by police during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, has filed a $30 million wrongful death action in Southern California.

Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran and Trump supporter, was assassinated at point-blank range by Capitol Police Officer Lt. Michael Byrd while trying to climb through a window near the House Chamber. Byrd admitted not seeing a weapon on Babbitt before discharging his firearm. The legal action introduces disconcerting facts relating to the shooting, alleging Babbitt’s hands were in plain sight and visibly empty when she was killed:

Ashli could not have seen Lt. Byrd, who was positioned far to Ashli’s left and on the opposite side of the doors, near an opening to the Retiring Room, a distance of approximately 15 feet and an angle of approximately 160 degrees. Sgt. Timothy Lively, one of the armed officers guarding the lobby doors from the hallway, later told officials investigating the shooting, ‘I saw him . . . there was no way that woman would’ve seen that.’ Lt. Byrd, who was not in uniform, did not identify himself as a police officer or otherwise make his presence known to Ashli. Lt. Byrd did not give Ashli any warnings or commands before shooting her dead.

The complaint also alleges that Officer Byrd gave a false “shots fired” report following his shooting Babbitt:

At 2:45 p.m., or within one minute after shooting Ashli, Lt. Byrd made the following radio call: ‘405B. We got shots fired in the lobby. We got shots fired in the lobby of the House chamber. Shots are being fired at us and we’re sh, uhh, prepared to fire back at them. We have guns drawn. Please don’t leave that end. Don’t leave that end.’ Approximately 35 seconds later, Lt. Byrd made another radio call, stating, ‘405B. We got an injured person. I believe that person was shot.’ In fact, no shots were fired at Lt. Byrd or his fellow officers. The only shot fired was the single shot Lt. Byrd fired at Ashli. He heard the loud noise of the gunshot. He saw her fall backwards from the window frame.

You can read the entire filing here.

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The family of Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by police during the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, has filed a $30 million wrongful death action in Southern California. show more
January 5, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Election 2024

J6 Protestors Were Not Patriotic, DeSantis Tells CNN.

Ron DeSantis has further alienated the America First conservatives he hoped to win over from Donald Trump’s base by disparaging January 6th protestors, denying they were motivated by patriotism.

Speaking at a CNN town hall, the Florida Governor was asked if “the January 6th insurrections display[ed] patriotism, as some of them claim they did” by an audience member.

“No, of course not,” DeSantis replied immediately. “I mean, that was not a good day for the country. I think the media has taken that, and I think the left has taken that, and really tried to politicize it, but it was not a good day for the country,” he added.

Claims Jan 6 was an “insurrection” have been disputed by even the likes of anti-Trump former CIA analyst Martin Gurri, who noted last year that there is “no such thing as an unarmed insurgency,” yet the only death on Jan 6 was Ashli Babbitt – “a young woman who was shot by a Capitol policeman [while] unarmed, as was the rest of the trespassing mob.”

DeSantis has been parroting the Democrat line on January 6th for some time, alleging Trump “was in the White House and didn’t do anything while things were going on,” and claiming he “should have come out more forcefully” against the protests.

WATCH:

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Ron DeSantis has further alienated the America First conservatives he hoped to win over from Donald Trump's base by disparaging January 6th protestors, denying they were motivated by patriotism. show more

Editor’s Notes

Behind-the-scenes political intrigue exclusively for Pulse+ subscribers.

RAHEEM J. KASSAM Editor-in-Chief
It’s by no means the first time Team DeSantis has expressed questionable views over January 6th
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It’s by no means the first time Team DeSantis has expressed questionable views over January 6th show more
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