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The U.S. Air Force has offered full military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, the Air Force veteran fatally shot while storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, officials confirmed Thursday.
Babbitt, 35, was killed by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd as she attempted to climb through a shattered window into the Speaker’s Lobby, where lawmakers were evacuating. The Justice Department and Capitol Police cleared Byrd of wrongdoing, ruling his actions were necessary to protect members of Congress.
Still, her death quickly became a rallying cry on the far right, with Babbitt cast as a martyr in political speeches, social media posts and protests.
Air Force statement
“After reviewing the circumstances of SrA Babbitt’s death, the Air Force has offered Military Funeral Honors to SrA Babbitt’s family,” an Air Force spokesperson said.
The conservative legal group Judicial Watch had pressed the Pentagon for months to approve honors for Babbitt, arguing her military service should not be overshadowed by the events of Jan. 6.
“Ashli Babbitt’s patriotic and courageous service in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard also merits favorable action on this request,” the group said in a statement.
Conspiracy beliefs and lawsuit settlement
A prolific social media user, Babbitt promoted baseless conspiracy theories before her death, including the debunked “pizzagate” hoax and QAnon claims that falsely alleged Donald Trump was secretly battling a global cabal of pedophiles.
Her estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government in 2024, accusing federal officials of using excessive force. Earlier this year, the Trump administration — after returning to power — approved a $5 million settlement to resolve the case.
Political flashpoint
Babbitt traveled from California to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, to join supporters of Trump in protesting his election loss. She was among the rioters attempting to break into the House chamber when she was shot.
While critics have described her actions as part of an attack on democracy, Trump allies have embraced her as a symbol of government overreach.
A representative for Babbitt’s family could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.
