Jan. 6 rioters pursue new path for payments from Trump administration

January 6 rioters are seeking compensation from the federal government after the Justice Department canceled its controversial anti-weaponization fund, according to White House correspondent Liz Landers. These defendants are now filing claims for damages through the Federal Tort Claims Act, which allows individuals to sue the U.S. government for wrongdoing.

Attorney Peter Ticktin, representing some of the defendants, alleges that their lives were severely disrupted, with issues such as difficulty traveling and destroyed businesses. The government has six months to settle these claims, but if they reject the settlement, the defendants can file a lawsuit in federal court. Ticktin has filed lawsuits claiming up to $1 million per client, representing up to 400 January 6 defendants.

He argues that the harm caused by the government's actions continues beyond the two-year statute of limitations, as the government's actions have created a "conspiracy" that continues to harm his clients.