Recent news reveals that the Air Force has decided to provide full military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, who tragically lost her life during the Capitol riots on January 6, four years ago.
At the age of 35, Babbitt was not just a civilian but also a dedicated Air Force veteran. She was in Washington to protest the election results that denied then-President Donald Trump a second term, as confirmed by her family. During the chaos, she attempted to breach a barricaded door leading to the Speaker’s Lobby.
In a heartbreaking moment, U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd discharged a single, fatal shot as Babbitt climbed through a shattered window.
Despite an official investigation clearing Byrd of any wrongdoing by both the Justice Department and the Capitol Police, Babbitt’s untimely death has been seized upon by rightwing figures, framing her as a martyr in their cause.
An Air Force spokesperson stated, “After reviewing the circumstances of SrA Babbitt’s death, the Air Force has offered Military Funeral Honors to her family.” This decision aligns with the long-standing advocacy from the conservative legal organization, Judicial Watch, which has been campaigning for these honors, positioning Babbitt as a victim of misconduct by the government.
The group emphasized in their announcement on social media: “Ashli Babbitt’s patriotic and courageous service in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard should warrant a positive response to this request.”
Babbitt was active on social media and held various conspiracy theories, notably supporting the bizarre pizzagate narrative, which falsely claimed that Democrats operated a child trafficking ring out of a Washington pizzeria. Additionally, she was drawn to the QAnon movement, which made absurd allegations about Trump fighting against a hidden cabal of criminals.
Earlier this year, Babbitt’s estate initiated a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government. Following Trump’s victory in November, his administration settled the civil complaint for a reported sum of $5 million.
As of now, Babbitt’s family has not commented on the latest developments from the Air Force.
This information was initially reported by NBCNews.com.
