The United States government has reached a settlement of approximately $5 million with the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by Capitol Police during the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Reports indicate that the settlement, which has not yet been officially announced, was agreed upon by the Trump administration.

It has been noted that about one-third of the total settlement will be allocated to the legal representatives of Babbitt's family.

Tom Manger, the outgoing Chief of the U.S. Capitol Police, expressed his disappointment regarding the settlement, stating that it contradicts a 2021 investigation by the Department of Justice (DOJ) which found no wrongdoing by the police in relation to Babbitt's shooting.

Manger indicated that the settlement could send a negative message to law enforcement agencies across the nation, particularly those involved in protective missions.

The settlement is part of a larger legal context, as Babbitt's family had previously filed a $30 million lawsuit last year.

The legal complaint alleged negligence on the part of Capitol Police and claimed that the officer involved, who was not in uniform at the time of the incident, failed to properly de-escalate the situation or provide any warnings before firing his weapon.

The lawsuit contended that Babbitt posed no threat to anyone present at the scene.

Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran, was shot while attempting to climb through a broken window into the House chamber, where a mob of rioters was trying to breach the security perimeter.

The officer involved has previously stated that he acted in what he believed was defense, firing his weapon as a last resort when he was unsure if Babbitt was armed.

In January following the Capitol riot, then-President Donald Trump issued pardons or commutations for over 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the events of that day, which further complicates the public discourse surrounding the riot and subsequent legal actions.