Capitol Rioters Seek Trump Anti-Weaponization Fund Payouts

WASHINGTON — Individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol are clamoring for financial compensation from a $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund” established by the Trump administration, a development that has ignited bipartisan backlash, multiple lawsuits, and a federal judge’s order temporarily freezing the fund.

The fund was created as part of a settlement agreement resolving President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns. According to AP News, the fund is ostensibly designed to compensate people who claim they were victims of politically motivated prosecutions, but its potential application to January 6 defendants has sparked a firestorm of controversy.

The Fund’s Origins

The Justice Department announced the fund on May 18, 2026, saying it would create a process for people who claim they were victims of “weaponization and lawfare” to seek financial compensation or formal apologies. The fund would be financed through a $1.776 billion payment from the federal Judgment Fund, a permanent source of federal money used to satisfy certain legal obligations of the United States, according to Law Commentary.

Payouts will be decided by a five-member commission appointed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. No commissioners have been named yet.

Divided Reactions Among January 6 Defendants

The January 6 community is sharply divided over the prospect of compensation. David Johnston, a former attorney who illegally entered the Capitol, is offering to help fellow defendants apply for payouts — for a 10% cut of any award, capped at $5,000 apiece. “I think the narrative is changing” about how the history of that day is being told, Johnston said. “I think good things are happening for us.”

But Jason Riddle, a military veteran who was sentenced to 90 days behind bars after pleading guilty to riot charges, publicly rejected a pardon from Trump and opposes compensation for rioters. “I’d love money, but I can’t accept that. That would bother me for the rest of my life,” Riddle told AP News. “We weren’t innocently persecuted just because of who we are or who we vote for. We were persecuted for committing criminal behavior in the Capitol of the United States.”

Oregon resident Pamela Hemphill, sentenced to 60 days in jail, has drafted a written claim for $5 million from the fund — but unlike many seeking payouts, she blames Trump rather than the government. “I wouldn’t have been through all of this if Trump hadn’t lied about the election being stolen,” she said. “It’s a direct result of his lies that I was even there that day.”

Administration’s Position

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has refused to rule out that January 6 rioters — including those who assaulted police officers — could receive payouts. As CNBC reported, Blanche said “anybody in this country can apply” and that it would be up to the commissioners. Vice President JD Vance similarly declined to rule out payouts, saying the administration was “not trying to give money to anybody who attacked a police officer” but was trying to “compensate people where the book was thrown at them.”

President Trump defended the possibility, stating that January 6 defendants “have been weaponized” and “their lives have been destroyed.”

Legal Challenges and Judicial Freeze

At least three lawsuits have been filed challenging the fund. On May 29, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia issued a temporary order freezing the fund’s establishment, barring federal officials from transferring money, reviewing claims, or distributing payments. A hearing on emergency relief is scheduled for June 12, 2026.

One lawsuit was filed by former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and D.C. Metropolitan Police officer Daniel Hodges, who both defended the Capitol on January 6. As The Guardian reported, their lawsuit alleges “the most brazen act of presidential corruption this century.” Brendan Ballou, the attorney for the suing officers, warned: “If the president is successful in that effort, if he’s able to get people to either forget or condone that day, he knows that he can get people to accept any attack on democracy.”

Congressional Response

Senate Republicans angry about the settlement have said they want to place parameters on the fund as part of a Department of Homeland Security spending bill. They left town after a tense meeting with Blanche and will return with the situation unresolved.

What’s Next

The June 12 hearing before Judge Brinkema will be a critical juncture for the fund’s future. Legal experts note that the fund raises significant constitutional questions about separation of powers, as the executive branch created a compensation program directing billions of dollars from the Judgment Fund without explicit congressional authorization. Whether Congress will successfully impose legislative restrictions — and whether the fund can survive the multiple legal challenges that could ultimately reach the Supreme Court — remains uncertain.