Pettersen, Bennet, Hickenlooper Demand Answers as Trump Administration Pursues Backdoor Payouts for January 6 Defendants and Election Deniers

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) and Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) are demanding a full accounting of the Trump Administration's so-called "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and any efforts to compensate January 6 defendants, election deniers, or individuals involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including Tina Peters.

The lawmakers' letter follows reports that attorneys representing hundreds of January 6 defendants have filed claims seeking compensation from the federal government despite the fact that the administration claimed that the fund is no longer moving forward. Yet, Trump has failed to provide any written confirmation that the slush fund has been terminated or disclose who applied for compensation, whether any payments were approved, or how taxpayer dollars may have been used.

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: "Despite repeated assurances that you are 'not moving forward with the fund,' your agencies have produced no written confirmation of its closure, no legal justification for its existence, and no accounting of who applied, what was promised, or whether taxpayer dollars were ever committed. The absence of even the most basic materials - coupled with conflicting statements from the Administration - raises a serious concern: that the fund was used, or intended to be used, to financially reward individuals involved in the January 6 attack or those who amplified false claims of a stolen election."

The lawmakers continued, "These concerns have only intensified in light of public statements from individuals who applied for compensation and now describe the fund as merely a "brief distraction" while they pursue payouts through other channels. The opacity surrounding this program has not lessened; it has deepened. And it has fueled legitimate fears that the fund, and the legal rationales underlying it, may have been - or could still be - used to support individuals whose actions undermined democratic institutions or threatened public safety, including through meritless claims brought by January 6 defendants and taxpayer-funded payments to rioters who assaulted law enforcement officers."

The letter requests a complete accounting of:

• All individuals or entities who applied for compensation through the Anti-Weaponization Fund;

• Any payments that were approved, denied, or disbursed;

• Documents related to the creation, administration, and purported closure of the fund;

• Communications between the Department of Justice, Department of Treasury, IRS, and the White House regarding the fund;

• Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) claims filed by January 6 defendants and individuals involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election; and

• Any discussions regarding potential settlements or payouts for individuals claiming to be victims of "weaponization."

The full letter is available HERE.