January 6 defendants pursue millions in claims via FTCA
Hundreds of people charged in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack have filed Federal Tort Claims Act petitions seeking millions of dollars in taxpayer-funded compensation. The FTCA allows individuals to seek monetary damages from the government while leaving settlement decisions solely to the Department of Justice, which this year used FTCA settlements to pay Michael Flynn and Carter Page $1.25 million each. Defense lawyers say the FTCA provides a legal route to recover losses or injuries tied to law enforcement actions on January 6, creating a potential alternative to the Trump administration’s abandoned $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund. If the Justice Department approves payouts, taxpayers could underwrite awards to defendants implicated in the Capitol breach, raising legal and political questions about accountability and executive discretion.
