• Trump administration to pay nearly $5 million to Ashli Babbitt's family.
• Babbitt was shot by a Capitol police officer during the January 6 riot.
• The settlement is part of a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit.
• Capitol Police Chief expressed disappointment over the settlement.
• The Justice Department found no wrongdoing by the officer involved.

The Trump administration has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to the family of Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran shot during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. This payment resolves a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit filed by Babbitt's estate, which alleged that U.S. Capitol Police officer Michael Byrd acted negligently when he shot her while she attempted to breach a barricaded door leading to the House Speaker's Lobby, according to CBS News, Newsweek, and HuffPost.

Babbitt was part of a large group attempting to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election results when she was shot. The officer involved was cleared of any wrongdoing following investigations by the Justice Department and Capitol Police, which concluded that his actions were appropriate in the context of defending lawmakers, as reported by India Times, BBC News, and Los Angeles Times.

The settlement has received criticism, particularly from Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger, who expressed his disapproval, stating it sends a “chilling message to law enforcement” and contradicts the previous Justice Department findings of no wrongdoing. He conveyed his disappointment to his staff following the announcement, as highlighted by India Times and Newsweek.

The case portrays ongoing tensions surrounding the January 6 events, reflecting larger issues of police conduct and government accountability. Babbitt's death has become a symbol for many Trump supporters, with former President Trump previously stating his support for her and condemning the shooting, as reported by India Times and HuffPost.