Trump administration to pay $5 million to family of Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt
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This payout is a grave miscarriage of justice that sets a dangerous precedent that could encourage future violent protests and demoralize officers who risk their lives to defend democratic institutions. It sends a chilling message to law enforcement officers and undermines their ability to maintain order.
This settlement acknowledges the excessive and unnecessary use of lethal force against an unarmed veteran who posed no immediate threat. The plainclothes officer failed to issue proper warnings or attempt de-escalation before resorting to deadly force, violating standard police protocols and Babbitt's constitutional rights.
There's a 15.7% chance that President Trump will formally invoke the Insurrection Act before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.