Jan. 6 defendants turn to federal tort claims to seek millions from government

With the Justice Department’s controversial anti-weaponization fund effectively frozen, a group of Jan. 6 defendants is pursuing compensation through the Federal Tort Claims Act, a law dating back to the 1940s that lets citizens sue the federal government for alleged wrongs. Lawyers for the defendants, such as Peter Ticktin, claim the rioters suffered severe personal and financial harm, citing restrictions on travel and ruined businesses, and are seeking up to a million dollars per plaintiff.

The claims name agencies including the Capitol Police, Metropolitan Police, the Department of Justice and the FBI. The DOJ maintains that the claims are invalid because they were filed beyond the two-year filing deadline, a view upheld by a Florida federal judge who dismissed earlier filings. Ticktin argues that a continuing government conspiracy, which he says persisted until at least September 2025, keeps the claims within the statute. He also expressed confidence that Attorney General Blanche would treat the suits fairly, and he may file hundreds of such claims on behalf of Jan. 6 participants.