Trump’s DOJ Paying Nearly $5M to Capitol Attacker’s Family - Bulwark Takes

Summary

Bulwark Takes: Trump’s DOJ Paying Nearly $5M to Capitol Attacker’s Family

Episode Release Date: May 20, 2025
Host: Tim Miller, The Bulwark

1. Breaking News: DOJ's Controversial Payout

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, host Tim Miller announces a significant development: the Trump-era Department of Justice (DOJ) has agreed to pay nearly $5 million to the family of Ashley Babbitt, a January 6th rioter who was fatally shot by police during the Capitol siege. This decision marks a reversal from the previous Biden administration's stance on similar matters.

"The United States has agreed to pay about 5 million to the family of January 6 rioter Ashley Babbitt... This decision by the Trump Justice Department reverses the earlier position from the Biden Justice Department."
— Tim Miller (00:00)

2. Critique of the DOJ's Decision

Tim Miller expresses strong disapproval of the DOJ's payout, framing it as part of a broader pattern of leniency towards Capitol attackers.

"This has been a total Trump thing. And I think it's also important to remember this is not just a TDF situation... It's like that the people that stormed the Capitol are the victims."
— Tim Miller (05:45)

He argues that this move not only absolves the attackers but also incentivizes others to seek similar compensation, potentially leading to a surge in claims from families of those who suffered injuries during the Capitol riot.

"Do you think Ashley Babbitt's gonna be the last one? Other people that suffered random injuries in their attack on the Capitol, you don't think that others are going to see this and decide that they want to get theirs?"
— Tim Miller (03:20)

3. Political Polarization and Government Stance

Miller highlights the troubling narrative that the government is portraying the rioters as victims rather than perpetrators, even those who harmed law enforcement officers.

"The rioters who injured police, who injured police, in some cases to such a degree that some lost their lives in the ensuing days... are the victims and that the government needs to pay them off."
— Tim Miller (06:30)

He criticizes Republican figures, including Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina and former Representative Liz Cheney, for their stances on the events of January 6th.

"Tonight, I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible. There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain."
— Tim Miller (04:50)

4. Financial and Moral Implications

The host underscores the financial burden imposed on taxpayers, questioning the morality of using public funds to compensate individuals who participated in violent actions to overturn the election.

"Your tax dollars are going to pay the family of a woman that was Climbing through glass in the Capitol to try to overturn the election. You're paying for that. This is total madness."
— Tim Miller (07:10)

He further decries the administration's actions as a way to reward loyalists, drawing parallels to Enrique Tarrio's recent meeting with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago.

"If you're a pro Trump gang leader, you get to go to a fancy dinner. If you're the family member of somebody that got those, part of the pro Trump mob... you get a million dollar payout, 5 million."
— Tim Miller (09:15)

5. The Weaponization of Law Enforcement

Miller accuses the current administration of weaponizing law enforcement to create an "us versus them" dynamic, where supporters are rewarded, and opposition faces suppression.

"They have decided to weaponize law enforcement as an us versus them, where people on their side get rewarded, people on the other side get targeted."
— Tim Miller (09:45)

6. Highlighting Support for Law Enforcement

Shifting focus, Miller acknowledges and commends law enforcement officers like Michael Fanone for their steadfastness and dedication in the aftermath of January 6th.

"There's a great video over the weekend, my colleague Ben Parker talked to Michael Fanone about National Police Day. And Fanone has been so valiant and so steadfast in his advocacy on all this. I truly appreciate him."
— Tim Miller (08:30)

He also mentions other contributors like Harry Dunn on Substack and credits Spencer Hu from the Washington Post for breaking the news.

7. Looking Ahead: Ongoing Advocacy and Monitoring

The episode concludes with Tim Miller outlining ongoing efforts to monitor and advocate against these governmental decisions. He references support for legal teams aiding Venezuelans who have been disappeared to El Salvador and encourages listeners to engage with related content and support fellow advocates.

"We will continue to monitor the latest. Make sure to tell your friends about the Bulwark. Come see us... I hope people go and check out his video and go check out the other work done by some others."
— Tim Miller (10:00)

He wraps up with a call to action, urging listeners to stay informed and involved in the continuing narrative surrounding January 6th and the administration's policies.

Conclusion

This episode of Bulwark Takes provides a fervent critique of the Trump DOJ's decision to compensate the family of a January 6th rioter, placing it within a larger context of political maneuvering and the perceived undermining of law enforcement. Tim Miller emphasizes the potential ramifications of such policies, both financially and morally, while highlighting the ongoing efforts to support and honor law enforcement officers who stood firm during the Capitol attack.

Transcript

Tim Miller (0:00)

Hey, everybody. Tim Miller from the Bulwark here. We've got some breaking news. The United States has agreed to pay about 5 million to the family of January 6 rioter Ashley Babbitt, who was shot fatally by police during the siege of the Capitol. This decision by the Trump Justice Department reverses the earlier position from the Biden Justice Department. And you know, this whole thing just really stinks if you add it to the total blanket pardon for all of the people who stormed the Capitol, even those who attacked police. And now you layer on top of that that not only are people getting off scot free, but that the US Is beginning to pay off the families of the attackers. Do you think Ashley Babbitt's gonna be the last one? Other people that suffered random injuries in their attack on the Capitol, you don't think that others are going to see this and decide that they want to get theirs? This has been a total Trump thing. And I think it's also important to remember this is not just a TDF situation. People as Trump curious or Trump supportive or Trump lick Spittley as Kevin McCarthy were as recently as two years ago out there saying that the police officer in this case did the right thing. You think Ashley Babbitt was murdered? Or do you think the police officer who shot her was doing his job? I think the police officer did his job. This month in the Senate, Republican from North Carolina, Thom Tillis was out there saying, we gotta be very clear what happened. What happened on January 6 was wrong. We have to be very, very clear that what happened on January 6 was wrong. So, you know, I mean, we could go keep going down the line of this and, you know, you could do the cliche stuff, though. Liz Cheney, a strong conserv. You know, talking about how horrible this was. Tonight, I say this to my Republican colleagues who are defending the indefensible. There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone, but your dishonor will remain. But now it's like the stated position of our government that not only that, not that like, oh, January 6th was something that got out of hand and some people did a bad thing. No, it's like that the people that stormed the Capitol are the victims. That is the position of our government. The rioters who injured police, who injured police, in some cases to such a degree that some lost their lives in the ensuing days, like Officer Brian Sicknick, that the attackers are the victims and that the government needs to pay them off. Your tax dollars. Your tax dollars are going to pay the family of a woman that was Climbing through glass in the Capitol to try to overturn the election. You're paying for that. And this is total madness. And these guys, for all of their talking points about how, you know, they were radicalized by the BLM riots and how Kamala contributed to the legal defense fund of some of the Black Lives Matter protesters. It's like, this isn't a case of defense contributing to a legal defense fund. This is the case of the US Government paying a cash ransom to the people that stormed the Capitol. To the family of someone that stormed the Capitol. I just. How can you take seriously the claims that they want to back the blue. Or how can you take seriously the claims that they were really, really angered by the Black Lives Matter movement because they care so deeply about law and order and, and protecting law enforcement. Like, they don't. They don't believe any of that shit. It's all about red team, blue team, it's all about shirts and skins. You know, it's, it's sharks and jets. It's that all the way down. And so, you know, imagine being the US Capitol policeman. Michael Byrd right now, who is now, who was attacked, who faced a mob at the Capitol, was doing everything he could to try to defend, to do his job. And now the US Government is saying that we need to pay for his negligence. It is just a truly noxious, despicable move by this administration. And more is coming like, this is. This is where they're going. They have decided that they want to make sure people who are on their side get rewarded, even if they commit violent acts. And we saw it when we just saw recently, Enrique Tarrio got to visit with Trump down at Mar a Lago. It doesn't matter. You know, they might say they're after gang bangers. If you're a pro Trump gang leader, you get to go to a fancy dinner. If you're the family member of somebody that got those, part of the pro Trump mob, pro Trump gang, you might say the targeted police and targeted the Capitol. You get a million dollar payout, 5 million. This is how they're deciding to play it. We cannot let them have it any other way and try to spin it any other way and try to make it about any other broader principle. They have decided to weaponize law enforcement as an up for us versus them, where people on their side get rewarded, people on the other side get targeted. And so this is just the latest step in that and we'll be continuing to monitor it as it goes along. There's a great video over the weekend, my colleague Ben Parker talked to Michael Fanone about National Police Day. And Fanon has been so valiant and so steadfast in his advocacy on all this. I truly appreciate him. I hope people go and check out his video and go check out the other work done by some others. Harry Dunn is on Substack now, so go make sure to check those guys out and support them. That's the latest news. Credit also to Spencer Hu at the Washington Post, who had the breaking news on this story a couple hours ago. We will continue to monitor the latest. Make sure to tell your friends about the Bulwark. Come see us. Washington, D.C. world Pride, me and John Lovett, Sarah Longwell, some others will be supporting an actual and order effort, will be supporting the legal team backing some of the Venezuelans who have been disappeared to El Salvador. So would love to see you all there. And as you know, I'm always here in my room, in my hole. So I'll be back soon with the latest breaking news with tomorrow's edition of the podcast. We'll see you all then. Peace.