Jan. 6 officers sue over Trump's $1.8 billion Trump's Anti-Weaponization Fund

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]The police officers tonight who defended the US Capitol on January 6th are now suing the Trump administration after learning the administration will use taxpayer money, $1.8 billion, to potentially pay the officers' attackers.

[00:00:13]Here's Mary Bruce.

[00:00:15]Tonight, two police officers who fought off the mob on January 6th filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration trying to block the $1.8 billion fund of made up of taxpayer money.

[00:00:28]It could soon hand out payments to their attackers. One of those officers, Daniel Hodges, >> [screaming] >> seen here crying out in agony as he's crushed in a door frame.

[00:00:41]More than 150 officers were injured in the riot.

[00:00:45]And today's lawsuit calls the president's new fund a taxpayer-funded slush fund to finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name. Late today, I spoke with Officer Hodges. What message do you think it sends?

[00:01:01]It sends that if you commit violence in Donald Trump's name that you will be protected legally, you will be rewarded financially, and that is his way of keeping these people on retainer for the next time he wants to influence the course of history with mass violence. Trump insists the fund is needed to help people he claims were mistreated by the Biden Justice Department.

[00:01:24]>> People were destroyed, they went to jail, their families were ruined. But tonight on Capitol Hill, outrage among a growing number of Republicans. I don't support it. I think it's a You can't do that. Rejecting the idea of taxpayer payouts to rioters. It sends a signal, "Hey, go breach the Capitol, destroy the building, assault police officers, you may even get compensated for someday." That's absurd.

[00:01:48]David, the officers filing this lawsuit today outraged especially because so many of the January 6th rioters were tried and convicted by juries, and because this money is coming from American taxpayers, David.

[00:02:00]>> Mary Bruce with us tonight. Mary, thank you.