1. United States
2. Ill.
3. Letter

I strongly oppose any effort to use taxpayer funds to compensate individuals who participated in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, whether through the proposed $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund, the Federal Tort Claims Act, or any other mechanism. The American people should not be forced to subsidize payments to individuals who engaged in an assault on Congress, disrupted the peaceful transfer of power, and, in many cases, were convicted of serious crimes. The very idea is an affront to the rule of law and to the police officers who were injured defending the Capitol that day. The hypocrisy is staggering. While convicted January 6 offenders seek compensation from taxpayers, tens of thousands of federal employees who were wrongfully or illegally terminated have faced uncertainty, financial hardship, and prolonged legal battles to restore their livelihoods. Likewise, public officials and perceived political opponents have been subjected to investigations and legal actions widely viewed as politically motivated retaliation. Regardless of one's views of individuals such as James Comey or Letitia James, the federal government should never be used as a tool for personal or political retribution. Taxpayer-funded compensation should be reserved for legitimate claims where government wrongdoing has been established—not as a reward for political allies or individuals who knowingly broke the law. Congress should make clear that no federal funds shall be used to compensate January 6 participants and should strengthen safeguards to prevent abuse of the Judgment Fund or FTCA claims process for political purposes.