Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbitt to be given full Air Force military funeral honors by Trump administration

Ashli Babbitt, the Air Force veteran who was fatally shot by Capitol police during the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, has been posthumously granted full military funeral honors. The decision marks a reversal from the Biden administration’s 2021 denial of such honors.

In an August 15 letter addressed to Babbitt’s family, Undersecretary of the Air Force Matthew Lohmeier stated:
“On behalf of the Secretary of the Air Force, I write to extend the offer for Military Funeral Honors for SrA Ashli Babbitt. After reviewing the circumstances of Ashli’s death, and considering the information that has come forward since then, I am persuaded that the previous determination was incorrect.”

Babbitt, who served in both the Air Force and Air National Guard, was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as a security forces airman, according to Stars and Stripes.

The decision comes amid continued controversy surrounding Babbitt’s role in the Capitol riot and her death. She was shot by U.S. Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd as she attempted to climb through a shattered window into a barricaded area. Byrd was cleared of criminal wrongdoing following an internal investigation.

Babbitt’s family had previously filed a wrongful death lawsuit seeking $30 million in damages, eventually settling for $5 million during the Trump administration.

The move to award military honors has sparked mixed reactions. Retired General Michael Flynn praised the Air Force’s decision, calling it an example of leadership. “May Ashli Babbitt now rest in peace and her family gain some measure of solace for the wonderful person she was and the light of truth she brought to each of us,” Flynn said.

However, the decision also drew criticism. Democratic Rep. Adam Kinzinger condemned the military honors, stating:
“Ashli Babbitt dishonored her service by committing insurrection against her country. While her death is absolutely tragic and I wish it hadn’t happened, the Air Force giving her honors is in itself a dishonor,” he said, according to Fox News.

Babbitt was among thousands of supporters of then-President Donald Trump who stormed the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.