Washington, DC — Several people pardoned by President Donald Trump for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol are now seeking financial compensation from the federal government, including individuals convicted of assaulting police officers.
The claims argue that the prosecutions, convictions and imprisonment stemming from the Capitol attack caused financial and personal harm. Some of the plaintiffs are seeking millions of dollars in damages.
Trump issued sweeping clemency after returning to office, pardoning or commuting the sentences of nearly all Jan. 6 defendants, including people convicted of violent offenses against law enforcement.
The new compensation claims go beyond asking for criminal records to be cleared. They seek taxpayer-funded damages for actions taken by federal prosecutors, investigators and prison officials during cases that had previously resulted in guilty pleas or convictions.
Critics argue the demands effectively seek to turn presidential pardons into financial rewards for people who participated in an attack that injured police officers and disrupted the certification of the 2020 election.
A presidential pardon eliminates or reduces criminal consequences, but it does not establish that the prosecution was unlawful or that the person was wrongfully convicted.
Whether the claims succeed will depend on courts determining whether the plaintiffs can overcome legal protections that generally shield the federal government and its officials from damages arising from lawful prosecutions.
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