President Donald Trump issued a strong statement honoring Ashli Babbitt and suggesting he may soon take steps to provide financial aid to the men and women who were prosecuted in connection with the Jan. 6 protests. The move comes as calls grow louder for justice not just in the courtroom, but through direct restitution.
Babbitt, who served in the U.S. Air Force, was shot and killed inside the Capitol by Lt. Michael Byrd. Despite internal findings that Byrd abandoned his post and later lied to investigators, he was neither fired nor disciplined. Instead, he received promotions and financial benefits.
BREAKING: Trump announced an investigation into the cop who m*rdered Ashli Babbitt.
He needs to face a jury!pic.twitter.com/vardjFU5kE
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) March 26, 2025
Trump criticized the shooting as unjust and preventable. He described Babbitt as someone who was not causing harm, but was instead trying to deescalate tensions in the hallway when she was gunned down.
During an interview this week, Trump revealed that there have been serious discussions about financially compensating the protesters and supporters who were swept up in politically motivated prosecutions under President Joe Biden.
The president already issued sweeping pardons to over 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants during his first day back in office. Now, attention is turning to how these individuals can be made whole after being jailed, publicly smeared and labeled domestic threats by the previous administration.
The case of Ashli Babbitt continues to spark outrage. Her family’s wrongful death lawsuit is ongoing, and Trump indicated that he had not been previously aware of it but plans to look into the matter.
Capitol Police provided Byrd with temporary housing at a military facility and covered additional expenses in the months after the shooting. These facts have drawn criticism from lawmakers and the public alike.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has demanded criminal charges be brought against Byrd and said the new administration must take a hard look at the corruption and failures that led to Babbitt’s death.
