The husband of Ashli Babbitt, who died during the January 6 riot, has sued the U.S. government for $30 million. The lawsuit, filed by a conservative legal group called Judicial Watch, claims wrongful death, assault, and battery.
Ashli Babbitt was shot by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd during the Capitol attack in 2021 when she tried to enter a barricaded door near the House chamber.
The lawsuit argues that Lt. Byrd was negligent in firing at Babbitt, who was a supporter of former President Trump.
“The facts speak truth. Ashli was ambushed when she was shot by Lt. Byrd,” In their letter, Ashli’s Attorneys contended that she had only gone to Trump’s rally in Washington, D.C. because she has been ambushed when she was shot by Lt. Byrd.
Claiming that Babbitt, an Air Force veteran, “posed no threat to the safety of anyone,” they stated, “Ashli did not go to Washington as part of a group or for any unlawful or nefarious purpose.”
The lawyers claimed that Byrd broke rules about using a gun safely, deciding when to use force, and evaluating if there’s an immediate threat.
They also said that when Byrd shot, he wasn’t wearing a uniform, didn’t say he was a cop, and didn’t warn or tell Babbitt what to do before shooting.
Byrd, in an interview after the event, said he thinks he saved many lives that day and is sure he made the right choice. Later, he was cleared of any blame.
“I know members of Congress, as well as my fellow officers and staff, were in jeopardy and in serious danger,” he justified his actions by saying to NBC News after the incident. “And that’s my job.”
