Today marks the fifth anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, and Democratic senators are pushing legislation to prevent the administration of President Donald Trump from paying individuals he pardoned.
- The “No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act” would prohibit the use of federal funds to compensate those who participated in the 2021 attack.
- The senators note that the Capitol attack caused approximately $3 million in damage to the building, injured over 100 law enforcement officers, and threatened members of Congress and their staff.
- Pamela Hemphill Rejected Trump’s Pardon
- January 6, 2021, in America’s Memory
Some plaintiffs are seeking up to $100 million, including the far-right group ‘Proud Boys,’ whose leaders are among the more than 1,500 individuals pardoned.
The issue gained traction after, last August, federal district judge John Bates authorized a $2,200 reimbursement to a participant in the January 6 attack, whose felony conviction was overturned following Trump’s pardon.
“Sometimes, a judge must do what the law requires, even if it seems to contradict what justice or initial instincts justify. This is one of those occasions,” Bates wrote at the time.
Bates presided over a jury trial that resulted in the conviction of Yvonne St. Cyr of Idaho.
The Justice Department under the Trump Administration stated that defendants in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack were entitled to restitution payments.
That position was revealed by the Trump Administration in a filing before federal district judge Tanya Chutkan, who was reviewing the case of Stacy Hager, who sought at least $500.
Now, Senators Alex Padilla (California), the ranking member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse (Rhode Island) introduced two bills to block such compensations.
“It is unthinkable to pay cash settlements five years after a violent mob stormed our nation’s Capitol, assaulted law enforcement officers, and attacked our very democracy,” Padilla said. “These insurrectionists should continue serving their sentences and paying fines for the damage they caused to the Capitol, without receiving reimbursements or cash rewards from the Trump Administration.”
The “No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act” would prohibit the use of federal funds to compensate those who participated in the 2021 attack.
The other bill, the “No Deals for January 6 Law Enforcement Attackers Act”, seeks to ban the federal government from paying settlements.
“Members of both parties who were here on January 6, 2021, remember the chaos and violence of that day, which resulted in the death and injury of police officers. As much as Trump’s thugs, with their ‘Make America Great Again’ campaign, try to distort it, the January 6 attack on our Capitol was an assault on our democracy,” Whitehouse said. “Our bills make it clear that no one who stormed the Capitol should receive taxpayer-funded financial assistance, especially those who violently assaulted police officers.”
The senators note that the Capitol attack caused approximately $3 million in damage to the building, injured over 100 law enforcement officers, and threatened members of Congress and their staff.
“The damage to the building included widespread vandalism, ruined furniture, broken glass, shattered doors, defaced artwork, and the desecration of the halls of Congress,” the senators stated. “Convicted January 6 insurrectionists have paid about $400,000 in court-ordered restitution to cover the damages. This amount has since been transferred to the Treasury Department, from which only Congress can withdraw funds.”
Pamela Hemphill Rejected Trump’s Pardon
Pamela Hemphill, 73, has been the only participant in the Capitol attack to reject President Trump’s pardon, and during a hearing this Tuesday at the Capitol, she apologized to congressional police officers.
“I deeply regret being part of the mob that put you and so many officers in danger. I want the Capitol Police to know how deeply grateful I am and how sorry I am,” Hemphill said during a hearing marking the fifth anniversary of the assault.
She criticized those who attempt to downplay what happened in 2021 after a rally by President Trump, which Hemphill attended before heading to the Capitol, believing Trump would go there.
“I can’t believe there are still people disrespecting and lying about January 6,” she added. “I will do everything I can to stop the lies about our brave officers like you, who protected us during the attack.”
January 6, 2021, in America’s Memory
Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, emphasized the importance of remembering the events of January 6, 2021.
“This anniversary reminds us how close we came to losing democracy in the U.S. five years ago,” she said. “As 2026 begins, this will be a crucial year in determining whether the 250-year-old American democratic experiment can survive.”
She accused President Trump of “trying to minimize his role” in the insurrection and in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
“We can never forget the violence and chaos of that day, while Trump watched the attack on television for 187 minutes without doing anything to stop it,” Tanden added. “We must do everything possible to protect ourselves against authoritarianism and the abuse of the law.”
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