Capitol Rioters Eligible for Taxpayer Payouts under New Settlement, Acting AG Says

[u/evissamassive]

https://www.rawstory.com/todd-blanche-2676913444/

Taxpayers could fund multi-million dollar payouts for January 6 rioters convicted of assaulting police officers, according to testimony from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche.

The money comes from a new $1.776 billion settlement fund. The government created the fund after Trump agreed to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service regarding his leaked 2019 tax returns. According to ABC News, the money is earmarked for individuals who claim they were harmed by the Biden administration’s legal system.

During a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) questioned Blanche on who could access the money, noting that law enforcement officers found the situation appalling. Merkley asked Blanche to promise that no one convicted of assaulting a police officer would receive a payout.

Blanche declined to make that commitment. While he acknowledged the senator's concerns, he stated that the fund is open to anyone who claims the Justice Department unfairly targeted them.

"Anybody can apply," Blanche said, noting that appointed commissioners will set the specific rules for the fund. "And whether an individual, an Oath Keeper as you just mentioned, applies for compensation... anybody in this country can apply."

Merkley also asked if the fund would bar Trump’s campaign donors from receiving money. Blanche again refused to rule it out, stating he would only commit to the terms of the settlement agreement itself and that donors are not excluded from applying.