Attorney Offers to Help Jan. 6 Rioters Apply for Trump's $1.8 Billion Compensation Fund
Similar Articles
Democrats Move to Block $1.8 Billion Fund for Alleged Political Prosecution Victims
DOJ Dismisses Jan. 6 Sedition Cases, Establishes Fund for Alleged Unjust Prosecutions
Police Officers Sue to Block Payouts from $1.8 Billion 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund
IRS Settles Trump Tax Leak Suit, Creates $1.8 Billion Fund and Grants Audit Immunity
Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump Administration's $1.776 Billion Settlement Fund
A South Carolina attorney who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot is offering a service to help other participants apply for a nearly $1.8 billion victim compensation fund. The fund was created by the Trump administration but has been frozen by a federal judge, and no official application process yet exists. Hundreds of participants have been convicted, and some plan to seek payments, though Senate Republicans intend to place restrictions on the fund.
Facts First
- Attorney David Johnston is offering a service to help fellow January 6 participants apply for a victim compensation fund
- The settlement fund is valued at $1.776 billion and was created by the Trump administration
- A federal judge has frozen the fund's establishment, temporarily blocking the processing or paying of claims
- Senate Republicans intend to place parameters on the fund as part of a Department of Homeland Security spending bill
- Johnston pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor trespassing charge and was sentenced in 2022
What Happened
David Johnston, a South Carolina attorney, illegally entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, with a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters. He later pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor trespassing charge and was sentenced in 2022 to three weeks in jail and three months of home detention. Johnston is now offering a service to help fellow participants... apply for payouts from a nearly $1.8 billion fund created by the Trump administration. His service would take a 10% cut of any award, capped at $5,000 per person. However, a federal judge in Virginia has frozen the fund's establishment and temporarily blocked the processing or payment of claims, and the government has not yet established an application process.
Why this Matters to You
The existence of a federal fund for January 6 participants may affect your perception of government accountability and spending. The allocation of nearly $1.8 billion for this purpose could influence how political disputes are settled and may shape future legislation regarding compensation for people claiming to be victims of a weaponized government. If you are a taxpayer, this could become a matter of how your tax dollars are directed, depending on the final outcome of the fund's establishment and parameters.
What's Next
The future of the $1.776 billion fund is uncertain. The federal judge's freeze will need to be lifted before any claims can be processed. Senate Republicans intend to place parameters on the fund as part of a Department of Homeland Security spending bill, which could significantly alter who is eligible. Five yet-to-be-named commissioners will eventually decide eligibility based on factors like the person's actions, sentence, and time served in jail. Individuals like Pamela Hemphill, who was sentenced to 60 days in jail, have already drafted claims seeking millions in compensation.