Trump won't rule out compensating Jan. 6 Capitol rioters charged with assaulting police
US President Donald Trump said he would not completely rule out compensating people charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the US
US President Donald Trump said he would not completely rule out compensating people charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, including individuals accused of assaulting police officers. Speaking to NBC News, Trump defended a proposed "anti-weaponization" fund and argued that many Jan. 6 defendants were unfairly targeted by prosecutors. When asked whether people who attacked police officers during the Capitol riot should receive taxpayer-funded compensation, Trump said: "I wouldn't be inclined to say so, but I have to see it," NBC News reported. Trump defends proposed anti-weaponization fund According to NBC News, Trump strongly backed the nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, which emerged from a settlement related to his lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. "Well, look. If it was up to me, I'd pay them the kind of money that they deserve," Trump was quoted as saying.
"People have been destroyed. Lives have been destroyed. Many suicides, think of it. People have committed suicide because a bunch of thugs went after them." Trump said he supported the idea of compensating people whom he believes were harmed by politically motivated investigations and prosecutions. "I love the idea," he said of the fund. Fund's future remains uncertain The future of the fund remains unclear. A federal judge on May 29 temporarily blocked the Trump administration from establishing the fund while a lawsuit challenging the initiative proceeds. Meanwhile, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers on June 2 that the administration was "not moving forward with the fund, period." However, when questioned by reporters the following day about the fund's status, Trump appeared less certain. "I'll have to ask the lawyers. I don't know," he said. Trump alleges government 'weaponization' Trump argued that many people had suffered severe personal consequences because of what he described as government "weaponization" under the administration of former President Joe Biden.
"So let me explain what the fund is," Trump said. "People have been hurt so badly by radical left lunatics that worked for the Biden administration and Sleepy Joe." Trump also referenced the federal investigation involving his Florida residence. "They raided Mar-a-Lago and all the other things," he said. The president further claimed that some affected individuals lost jobs, families and financial stability. "People have been badly hurt. They've committed suicide. They've lost their jobs. They've lost their families. They've lost their wives. They've lost everything," Trump told NBC News. More than 1,600 people charged over Capitol attack According to federal records cited by the news outlet, approximately 1,600 people were charged in connection with the Capitol attack. More than 1,100 defendants had been sentenced before the Biden administration ended. The January 6 attack occurred as Congress met to certify Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. Rioters breached the Capitol building, with some carrying items including stun guns, bear spray and flagpoles.
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