NEWS: Sen. Schiff Introduces Legislation to Prevent Government Payouts to January 6th Insurrectionists and Those Convicted of Election Interference

New legislation comes as President Trump refuses to back down from attempts to use taxpayer money to pay off criminals and people convicted of attacking Capitol Police

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Preventing Payouts for Insurrectionists Act, legislation to prohibit anyone convicted of offenses related to the January 6 attack on our nation's capital or interference in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections from receiving payouts funded by taxpayer dollars from the United States government.

Senator Schiff's legislation follows President Trump's comments this weekend refusing to rule out a so-called "anti-weaponization fund" to allow the government to pay out the president's allies, including individuals charged with assaulting police officers during the January 6th insurrection - who the president said were "unfairly targeted by prosecutors and deserve compensation." Justice Department officials have also signaled the administration's interest in finding alternative pathways to compensate January 6th defendants with taxpayer funds, including through settlements under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

"President Donald Trump still wants to pay off violent insurrectionists who attacked police officers on January 6th, despite any claims from members of his administration that say otherwise. Our taxpayer dollars should not be used to pay out criminals, and we can pass a law right now to prevent this president or any future administration from paying off their friends and political allies. Time and again, we've seen this administration make a promise - only to break it - and we need these protections enshrined in law," said Senator Schiff.

The Preventing Payouts for Insurrectionists Act specifically would:

• Amend the Federal Tort Claims Act to prohibit individuals convicted of offenses - including those subsequently pardoned of those offenses - related to the January 6 Capitol attack or interference in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections from pursuing legal claims against the United States government.
• Retroactively mandate the return of any federal payouts or settlements received for such claims since January 20, 2025, to Treasury.
• Authorize state attorneys general to enforce compliance with the mandated return of funds through civil lawsuits.

The full text of the bill is available here.

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