Justice Department, Babbitt family near final settlement in Capitol riot shooting lawsuit

WASHINGTON (7News) — The Justice Department and the family of Ashli Babbitt reached an "agreement in principle" to settle a lawsuit brought by the family after a U.S. Capitol Police officer fatally shot the woman during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol rio, per several reports.

Lawyers for both sides told a D.C. federal judge that they were still working to reach a final agreement and did not disclose details of the proposed settlement, which a Babbitt family lawyer said could happen within the next three weeks, according to ABC News and the Associated Press.

Babbitt was among the thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump who stormed the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot. She was shot after an investigation found Babbitt tried to climb through a broken window that led to the House Speaker's Lobby, where several lawmakers were sheltering.

The officer who shot Babbitt was cleared of any wrongdoing, and Babbitt's family in January 2024 sued the government for $30 million for what they claim was her wrongful death.

Per ABC News, Friday's hearing was convened on an emergency basis after one of Babbitt's prior attorneys sought a preliminary injunction to ensure he received payment for his prior work on the case if a settlement was formally announced.

President Donald Trump has previously expressed solidarity with Babbitt's family and called for "justice," and said in an interview in March that he was unaware of the ongoing lawsuit but would look into it, according to ABC News.