Amid a wave of federal program cuts affecting hundreds of thousands of People, President Donald Trump introduced that his administration is contemplating compensating the MAGA loyalists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
In an interview with the conservative outlet Newsmax, host Greg Kelly requested Trump whether or not there was any dialogue of a so-called “compensation fund” for the rioters—lots of whom had been rearrested for different crimes after getting pardons—as a result of they misplaced “income” and “opportunity” throughout their incarceration. In response, Trump confirmed, “there’s a lot of talk about that.”
“People in government really liked that group of people,” he continued. “They were patriots as far as I was concerned. I talk about them a lot. They were treated very unfairly.”
Whereas Trump notably didn’t present additional particulars, he gave the impression to be floating what some may name reparations for the Jan. 6 felons—an initiative that, if pursued, would possible be funded by taxpayers.
Throughout the interview, Trump additionally pledged to “look into” whether or not the federal authorities ought to attain a settlement with the household of Ashli Babbit, the “big MAGA fan” who was fatally shot by a police officer throughout the riot. Final January, Babbitt’s household filed a $30 million wrongful demise lawsuit in opposition to the U.S. authorities.
“Babbitt was a really good person who was a big MAGA fan, Trump fan, and she was innocently standing there—they even say, trying to sort of hold back the crowd,” Trump mentioned. “And a man did something unthinkable to her when he shot her, and I think it’s a disgrace. ”
Even when Trump is true in saying that the diehard MAGA loyalists in his administration sympathize with the rioters, the general public certain doesn’t. In December, a Civiqs ballot for Each day Kos discovered {that a} naked majority of registered voters (51%) opposed Trump’s plan to pardon those that took half within the revolt.
That, nonetheless, didn’t cease Trump from issuing a sweeping grant of clemency to the greater than 1,500 people charged in reference to the Capitol assault when he was reelected to the White Home in January. He additionally commuted the sentences of 14 imprisoned insurrectionists, permitting them to roam the streets freely.
Although lots of the folks let off the hook by the president had been amongst a few of the worst folks on the planet, the president has routinely referred to them as “hostages” and baselessly claimed that they had been victims of an unjust felony justice system.
However let’s be clear: The people Trump pardoned had been neither “patriots” nor had been they victims. One such particular person, Andrew Taake, who initially acquired a six-year sentence for his actions on Jan. 6, was later arrested once more on an impressive little one intercourse crimes cost. One other convicted rioter, Edward Kelley, was individually charged with making a “kill list” and conspiring to homicide the regulation enforcement brokers who investigated him.
What’s worse, their assault on the Capitol induced a minimum of $1.5 million price of injury, in response to the Washington Submit.
It’s notably egregious that Trump would even think about using federal funds to compensate these indicted for the assault, particularly as his administration slashes important packages that hundreds of thousands of People depend on. As an example, Trump gutted the Division of Training, and with assist from his billionaire ally Elon Musk, he’s overseen the firing of hundreds of federal employees or pressured them into accepting buyouts which has damaged all the pieces from the IRS to Social Safety.
If People weren’t onboard with Trump’s plan to pardon these criminals, they’re even much less prone to assist footing the invoice for his or her so-called “compensation.”
