A lawsuit accusing the US government of causing the “wrongful death” of January 6th protester Ashli Babbitt was green-lit by a federal judge Monday.
The lawsuit, filed by conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch on behalf of her husband Aaron Babbitt and her estate, seeks $30 million in damages for the “intentional shooting and killing of Ashli by Lt. Michael Byrd.”
“The facts speak truth,” the lawsuit states.
“Ashli was ambushed when she was shot by Lt. Byrd. Multiple witnesses at the scene yelled, ‘you just murdered her,'” adding, “Lt. Byrd was never charged or otherwise punished or disciplined for Ashli’s homicide.”
BREAKING: Following a hearing on September 20, a judge scheduled a trial date of July 20, 2026, for the $30 million wrongful death suit filed on behalf of the estate and the family of Ashli Babbitt (1/3). https://t.co/tsACPHqwPO
— Judicial Watch ⚖️ (@JudicialWatch) September 23, 2024
The judge’s decision to move the case forward was lauded by Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton, who commented, “Ashli Babbitt’s family is relieved Ashli’s case is moving forward to trial on all fronts.”
“They seek justice and accountability for Ashli’s violent and lawless death at the hands of U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Byrd.”
Judicial Watch provided a synopsis of the events that led up to Babbitt’s summary execution:
The shooting occurred at the east entrance to the Speaker’s Lobby. After demonstrators filled the hallway outside the lobby, two individuals in the crowded, tightly packed hallway struck and dislodged the glass panels in the lobby doors and the right door sidelight. Lt. Byrd, who is a United States Capitol Police commander and was the incident commander for the House on January 6, 2021, shot Ashli on sight as she raised herself up into the opening of the right door sidelight. 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.
Former Infowars correspondent Sam Montoya was on-site and was one of the only members of the press to capture footage as the incident unfolded.
The hearing is scheduled for July 20, 2026.
Read the lawsuit in full: