It seems like Donald Trump has taken his support for the January 6th rioters to a whole new level. Back in March, he backed the idea of a “compensation fund” for those who stormed the U.S. Capitol, claiming it was in his name. Although he didn’t go into details, it sounded like he was suggesting some financial perks for those he had previously pardoned.
Fast forward a few weeks, and Trump’s Justice Department clarified this plan, stating in legal documents that the rioters whose convictions were overturned by him are eligible for refunds of their restitution payments meant for the Capitol damage.
Even though Democratic lawmakers objected to this idea, it looks like they can’t stop it. According to a report by Politico, two years back, Yvonne St. Cyr, a rioter, faced serious charges. She was convicted on felony counts for obstructing police during this civil insurrection and ended up with a 30-month prison sentence along with a hefty restitution fee.
Now that she’s received a presidential pardon, she’s not just out of jail—she’s also getting her money back, even though the presiding judge appeared less than thrilled about it.
“Sometimes a judge must do what the law commands, even when it contradicts what may feel just,” commented U.S. District Judge John Bates, an appointee from the Bush era. “This is one of those instances.”
Many people might be aware of the Jan. 6th trials and pardons, but not everyone knows that those convicted also had to shell out money as part of their sentences.
An earlier report by USA Today broke it down saying that most January 6th defendants had to pay restitution to the Architect of the Capitol to help fix the damages which reached about $3 million. Felony convicts usually had to fork over $2,000, while those with misdemeanor convictions faced a bill of $500.
There’s still some mystery regarding the total funds returned, but CBS News estimated it was around $437,000. Now, it appears overhead gubernatorial support is enabling funds to flow back to these rioters.
The St. Cyr case is just the beginning; looking ahead, we might see more similar situations.
This post serves to update earlier entries related to this topic.
This article was first published on MSNBC.com
