Rep. Norma Torres Fights to Keep January 6 Rioters Off Federal Payroll

Rep. Norma Torres Fights to Keep January 6 Rioters Off Federal Payroll

GOP Blocks Accountability, Sides with Criminal Pardoned Insurrectionists

Washington, D.C - Today, Congresswoman Norma Torres (CA-35), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, introduced an amendment to the FY27 Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) Appropriations bill to block the federal government from hiring individuals pardoned for their roles in the January 6 insurrection.

The amendment would ensure that no taxpayer dollars are used to hire or pay individuals covered under presidential pardons tied to January 6 or efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

"This amendment was simple. If you attacked our democracy or assaulted police officers, you should never get a taxpayer-funded job," said Congresswoman Torres. "Republicans should stop standing up for violent insurrectionists and start standing up for our democracy. This bill already falls short and Republicans refused a simple fix."

More than 1,500 individuals connected to January 6 were pardoned, including those convicted of violent assaults on law enforcement. Several have since been linked to additional serious crimes, and child sexual abuse cases, raising public safety concerns.

"This is what happens when you hand out mass pardons with no accountability," Torres added. "Now Republicans are okay with putting those same individuals on the federal payroll. We know that at least one January 6 rioter was employed by the federal government and the Administration has refused to disclose whether others are currently on payroll."

"The Trump administration and Republicans are not even protecting our children and are sending a dangerous message by protecting pardoned January 6 rioters," Torres continued. "They are ignoring or downplaying the fact that some of those same individuals have been convicted of child sexual abuse, reinforcing a pattern of tolerance and support for individuals who commit sexual violence."

Last summer, the Trump Administration hired Jared Wise, a January 6 insurrectionist who was caught on camera urging fellow rioters to "kill" police and calling them "Nazi" and "Gestapo" while they defended the Capitol, was employed as a senior advisor for Trump's Department of Justice for nearly a year.

Last week, President Trump's Department of Justice also moved to erase the seditious conspiracy convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keeper leaders, far-right extremist groups who helped plan and orchestrate the attack on the Capitol. Trump had previously commuted their prison sentences.

"I was here on January 6. I won't stand by while those who tried to tear this country apart are rewarded with federal jobs," Torres said. "Oversight is not optional and accountability is not negotiable."

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• Daniel Rodriguez Jared Wise

• Patrick McCaughey III

• David Daniel

• Andrew Paul Johnson

• Daniel Tocci

• John Banuelos

• Jared Wise