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Ashli Babbitt ‘Wrongful Death’ Lawsuit Gets Green Light From Court

By Updated: COURT

A federal judge has set a trial date for the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd during the January 6 protest. Conservative legal group Judicial Watch, assisting in the lawsuit filed by Babbitt’s husband, Aaron, announced that Judge Ana C. Reyes of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has scheduled the trial for July 20, 2026. The lawsuit seeks $30 million in damages.

Following a hearing on Friday, Judicial Watch reported that Judge Reyes is considering a request to transfer the case to California, where Ashli Babbitt’s family resides, the Washington Examiner reported. “Ashli Babbitt’s family is relieved Ashli’s case is moving forward to trial on all fronts,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. “They seek justice and accountability for Ashli’s violent and lawless death at the hands of U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Byrd.”



The case stems from the events of January 6, 2021, when a couple hundred supporters of then-President Donald Trump attempted to disrupt the certification of the Electoral College vote for Joe Biden. Ashli was among the protesters trying to breach the Speaker’s Lobby behind the House chamber when Byrd fired, resulting in her death. The Judicial Watch complaint alleges that Babbitt was unarmed and had her hands raised as she entered the hallway, but this did not prevent the shooting.

“Lt. Byrd later confessed that he shot Ashli before seeing her hands or assessing her intentions or even identifying her as female. Ashli was unarmed. Her hands were up in the air, empty, and in plain view of Lt. Byrd and other officers in the lobby,” the lawsuit noted. “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 added.



Byrd, who is Black, was investigated by the government but faced no disciplinary action. In the aftermath of the riots, the FBI arrested and charged approximately 2,000 individuals. However, many of these cases are now seeing charges dropped following a Supreme Court ruling that the Biden administration overstepped by using an obstruction law to detain Trump’s supporters.

Trump has denied encouraging his supporters to obstruct the presidential vote in Congress and has pledged to pardon those charged in nonviolent cases. During his speech on January 6, he urged supporters to “march peacefully” to the Capitol. Additionally, earlier reports revealed that Trump had requested National Guard troops be deployed around the Capitol that day, but this request was not acted upon by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).






Disclaimer: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.