Lawsuit Filed by Capitol Police Officers Against Settlement Fund for Rioters
Capitol Officers Challenge Settlement Fund
In Washington, two police officers who played a crucial role in defending the U.S. Capitol during the January 6 attack by supporters of former President Donald Trump have initiated a lawsuit aimed at preventing anyone, including the rioters, from benefiting from a newly established $1.776 billion settlement fund. This fund is intended for individuals claiming to be victims of politically motivated prosecutions.
The lawsuit was filed by the officers’ legal representatives shortly after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the fund's establishment during a congressional session. Blanche, who previously served as Trump's personal attorney, did not dismiss the possibility that those who assaulted law enforcement on January 6 could qualify for payouts from the fund.
The legal action asserts that the government’s so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is an unlawful financial resource that Trump could exploit to support insurrectionists and violent paramilitary groups. The lawsuit characterizes the fund's creation as a significant act of presidential corruption and demands its dissolution.
According to the lawsuit, there is no legal basis for the fund's creation, the settlement it is based on is described as a corrupt scheme, and its structure is said to violate both the Constitution and federal law.
This fund originates from a settlement related to Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS concerning the unauthorized release of his tax returns. It aims to provide compensation to those who feel they were wronged by the Justice Department under previous administrations. A five-member commission appointed by the attorney general will determine payout decisions.
During the Capitol riot, over 100 police officers sustained injuries. Nearly 1,600 individuals faced charges related to the events of January 6, but Trump utilized his pardon powers to nullify all those cases in a broad act of clemency last year.
The plaintiffs in this lawsuit are Metropolitan Police Department officer Daniel Hodges and former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who is currently campaigning for a congressional seat in Maryland. Both officers have previously testified before Congress regarding their traumatic experiences on January 6, with footage showing a rioter forcibly removing Hodges' mask while he was trapped against a door during a struggle for control of a tunnel entrance.
The officers argue that the fund promotes further violence by those acting in the President's name. They claim that Dunn and Hodges already face credible threats to their lives and that the fund significantly heightens their risk.
During a congressional hearing, Blanche faced numerous inquiries about the fund, describing it as 'unusual' yet not without precedent. He did not acknowledge that Trump’s Justice Department has pursued investigations and prosecutions against some of the former president's political adversaries, including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are also named as defendants in the officers’ lawsuit. Representatives from the Justice and Treasury departments have not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the lawsuit.
One of the officers' attorneys, Brendan Ballou, is a former Justice Department prosecutor who dealt with cases related to January 6.