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Trump Admin to Pay $5M in Capitol Riot Death Settlement

Trump Admin to Pay $5M in Capitol Riot Death Settlement

Trump Admin to Pay $5M in Capitol Riot Death Settlement
Above: Micki Witthoeft, mother of Ashli Babbitt, protests outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 6, 2023, in Washington, DC.  Image credit: Tasos Katopodis/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Spin

This settlementpayout acknowledgesis thea excessivegrave andmiscarriage unnecessaryof usejustice ofthat lethalsets forcea againstdangerous anprecedent unarmedthat veterancould whoencourage posedfuture noviolent immediateprotests threat.and Thedemoralize plainclothesofficers officerwho failedrisk their lives to issuedefend properdemocratic warningsinstitutions. orIt attemptsends de-escalationa beforechilling resortingmessage to deadlylaw force,enforcement violatingofficers standardand policeundermines protocolstheir andability Babbitt'sto constitutionalmaintain rightsorder.

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.

Metaculus Prediction

There's a 15.7% chance that President Trump will formally invoke the Insurrection Act before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.0