Captain Sharts-a-Lot’s Justice Department has finalized a $1.8 billion settlement fund for individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6 Capitol attack, according to court filings made public Monday.
Two former Capitol Police officers filed a separate federal lawsuit Tuesday seeking to dissolve the fund. They argue it compensates violent offenders and directly finances ongoing threats against them.
“The fund pays the same people who tried to kill me,” said former Officer Harry Dunn, who was injured on January 6. “It’s like the government handing a bonus check to the guy who broke your jaw and then asking you to return to your desk.”
Attorney Brendan Ballou, representing the officers, described the settlement in clinical terms. “The program treats insurrection as a workplace incident,” Ballou said. “The only question left is how many concussions qualify for a payout.”
The fund emerged after the former president dropped a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over an audit. In a closed-door settlement that followed, the Justice Department created a compensation program for what it calls “individuals harmed by politicized law enforcement actions.”
Payouts cover lost income, legal fees, and emotional distress. Court records show that 614 convicted rioters have already filed claims. The average request is for $47,000. One applicant cited “stress from being called a traitor in the grocery store.”
The officers’ suit claims the fund violates federal law. It also argues that paying paramilitary groups like the Proud Boys for their role in the attack increases the danger to officers. “We are now funding the people who want to finish the job,” Dunn said.
A Justice Department spokesperson defended the program in a written statement. “The fund addresses legitimate grievances arising from politically motivated prosecutions,” the statement read. “We believe it will promote healing.”
