The U.S. Air Force has granted full military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, the Air Force veteran who was shot and killed by police during the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.
Officials confirmed the decision on Thursday, more than four years after her death, NBC News reports.
Babbitt, 35, was among the rioters attempting to force their way into the House chamber as lawmakers were being evacuated.
As she tried to climb through a shattered window of a barricaded door near the Speaker’s Lobby, she was shot once by Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd. She died at the scene.
Both the Justice Department and the U.S. Capitol Police cleared Byrd of wrongdoing, ruling that he had acted lawfully to protect members of Congress and staff from the advancing mob.
Still, Babbitt’s death has become a rallying cry for many on the far right, who have portrayed her as a martyr.
“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 in a statement, via the New York Post.
Babbitt served in the Air Force and Air National Guard before leaving the military. Advocacy for her to receive funeral honors had been led by Judicial Watch, a conservative legal group that has consistently pushed the claim that her killing reflected government misconduct.
“Ashli Babbitt’s patriotic and courageous service in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard also merits favorable action on this request,” Judicial Watch said in a statement Wednesday, hailing the Air Force’s decision.
Babbitt was an active social media user who frequently posted support for former President Donald Trump and embraced conspiracy theories. She promoted “Pizzagate,” a false theory alleging Democrats operated a child abuse ring out of a Washington, D.C., restaurant, and became a follower of QAnon, the sprawling conspiracy movement centered on Trump’s supposed battle against an international criminal cabal, The Independent detailed.
Her family has also pursued legal action. In early 2024, Babbitt’s estate filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the U.S. government, alleging excessive force.
After Trump’s return to the White House in November, his administration negotiated a $5 million settlement to resolve the case.
The announcement of military honors comes amid renewed debates about how the events of Jan. 6 should be remembered. For many Americans, the day marked an unprecedented attack on democracy. But for others on the right, Babbitt’s story remains a symbol of grievance and mistrust in government institutions.