President Trump has vowed to review the case of the Air Force veteran who was fatally shot just for “innocently standing there” during the January 6 Capitol protest.
Specifically, the president was talking about Ashli Babbitt. He promised to consider a settlement for her family and investigate the continued employment of the officer who killed her.
In a recent interview, President Trump expressed strong support for Babbitt and voiced concern over the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) opposition to the $30 million wrongful death lawsuit filed by her family.
The president appeared surprised when informed of the DOJ’s position, stating, “You’re telling me that for the first time. I haven’t heard that.”
President Trump went on to praise Babbitt, saying, “I’m a big fan of Ashli Babbitt, okay, and Ashli Babbitt was a really good person who was a big MAGA fan, Trump fan, and she was innocently standing there – they even say, trying to sort of hold back the crowd.”
The president suggested that Babbitt was actually trying to restrain other protesters when she was shot, contradicting the official narrative that has been used to justify her killing.
Michael Byrd, the Capitol Police officer who shot Babbitt, not only escaped any charges but received a promotion to Captain in 2023.
The Justice Department declined to charge Byrd, claiming the shooting was lawful despite growing questions about whether lethal force was necessary in that situation.
“I think it’s a disgrace. I’m going to look at that too. His reputation was – I won’t even say. Let’s find out about his reputation, okay? We’re going to find out,” President Trump said.
He also vowed to “look into” a possible settlement for Babbitt’s family and Officer Byrd’s employment status.
While the DOJ under Joe Biden aggressively pursued January 6 defendants, they showed little interest in accountability for Babbitt’s death or addressing the family’s grievances.
President Trump has also mentioned the possibility of creating a “compensation fund” for January 6 defendants, whom he described as “patriots” who were treated unfairly.
The president has already granted clemency to nearly 1,500 supporters involved in the Capitol protest.
Throughout discussions of January 6, President Trump has consistently highlighted that Babbitt was the only person killed that day.
He has also compared the harsh treatment of January 6 defendants to the lenient handling of violent protesters who have targeted businesses like Tesla dealerships.
For many conservatives, Babbitt’s death and the subsequent lack of accountability represent a troubling double standard in how justice was applied.
While left-wing protesters frequently escape serious consequences, Trump supporters face harsh treatment from law enforcement and the judicial system.
President Trump’s promise to review this case signals that equal justice under the law may finally be on a course-correction path.
