Internet Divided Over $5M Settlement to Family of Woman Shot During January 6 Capitol Riot

The internet is deeply divided as reports confirm that the Trump administration has agreed to a nearly $5 million wrongful death settlement with the family of Ashli Babbitt, a military veteran and pro-Trump demonstrator who was fatally shot by Capitol Police during the January 6th riot. Babbitt had traveled from California to Washington, D.C. to attend the "Stop the Steal" rally, a far-right movement disputing the 2020 election results and falsely claiming Donald Trump was the rightful winner. During the riot, Babbitt, who was unarmed, was shot while attempting to climb through a broken window near the Speaker’s Lobby, where members of Congress were being evacuated. Though the Justice Department ruled the shooting legally justified, her family filed a $30 million wrongful death lawsuit, which was reportedly settled for $5 million.

Public reaction remains sharply divided. Some view the settlement as a necessary acknowledgment of loss and justice, while others see it as rewarding participation in a violent insurrection, especially since the officer involved was cleared of wrongdoing. The $5 million payout, reportedly funded through taxpayer dollars from the federal Judgment Fund, has sparked additional controversy online.

Social media users have also drawn comparisons to the George Floyd settlement, highlighting that Floyd’s family received $27 million after a police officer was convicted, while Babbitt’s shooter was exonerated. As debates over justice, accountability, and taxpayer responsibility continue, the case remains a flashpoint in America’s ongoing political and cultural divides.