More than four years after unarmed Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt was gunned down by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, her family has reached a major legal milestone — securing a multi-million-dollar settlement from the federal government in a case that has haunted the nation.

According to The Blaze, Babbitt’s husband, Aaron Babbitt, signed a settlement agreement on June 6, accepting $4.975 million to resolve the $30 million wrongful death lawsuit filed against the federal government earlier this year.

While the Department of Justice did not admit liability, the size of the payout speaks volumes — and many view the settlement as an implicit acknowledgment that Lt. Byrd’s actions were excessive and reckless.

“This fair settlement is a historic and necessary step for justice for Ashli Babbitt’s family,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton, whose organization handled the case pro bono. “Ashli should never have been killed, and this settlement destroys the evil, partisan narrative that justified her outrageous killing and protected her killer.”

A portion of the settlement — 25 percent — is being held in a trust account pending resolution of a dispute with Terrell N. Roberts III, Ashli Babbitt’s former attorney. Roberts claims he is entitled to 40% of the award despite severing ties with Aaron Babbitt in early 2022. The disagreement is currently being reviewed by the Attorney/Client Arbitration Board of the D.C. Bar.

The federal government may have tried to avoid admitting fault, but the facts laid out in the January 2024 lawsuit are damning. The complaint, filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act, alleges that Byrd failed to properly assess the situation before pulling the trigger. The shot, fired from Byrd’s Glock 22 sidearm, struck Babbitt in the left shoulder at 2:44 p.m. as she attempted to climb through a broken sidelight window near the House Speaker’s Lobby — her hands raised, unarmed, and visible.

Court filings paint a harrowing scene.

“Ashli remained conscious for minutes or longer after being shot… She experienced extreme pain, suffering, mental anguish and intense fear before slipping into pre-terminal unconsciousness,” the suit stated.

The lawsuit also raises serious questions about Lt. Byrd’s history of misconduct, including previous incidents where he discharged his firearm at a vehicle and once left his service weapon on a toilet tank inside the Capitol Visitor Center. The Babbitt family’s legal team argued that Capitol Police failed to adequately supervise Byrd, allowing a known liability to remain in a critical position on a highly charged day.

Contrary to liberal media smears, Ashli Babbitt was a decorated 14-year Air Force veteran, not a violent extremist. She was unarmed when she was killed — a fact even Byrd reportedly admitted he didn’t assess before opening fire.

“Ashli posed no threat to the safety of anyone,” the lawsuit said. “Her hands were up in the air, empty and in plain view… Byrd shot Ashli before seeing her hands or assessing her intentions or even identifying her as female.”

The Biden-era media and political class have long buried the truth about what happened on January 6, using Babbitt’s death as a political weapon to justify a crackdown on patriots. But this settlement — nearly $5 million — shatters the narrative and delivers a measure of justice that was long denied.

The real tragedy? Ashli Babbitt should still be alive today. And the American people deserve answers.