Chief Judge Asks Why Justice Department Isn’t Seeking More Money From Capitol Rioters

Chief Judge of the D.C. Federal Court Beryl Howell has questioned why the Justice Department is only asking Capitol rioters to pay less than $1.5 million in damages when the total cost to American taxpayers amounts to half a billion dollars.

“Where we have Congress appropriating all this money due directly to the events on January 6, I have found the damage amount of less than $1.5 million, when all of us American taxpayers are about to foot the bill for close to half a billion dollars, a little bit surprising,” Howell said. “I’m accustomed to the government being fairly aggressive.”

Glenn Wes Lee Croy, a rioter who pleaded guilty on Monday to misdemeanor charges, was asked to pay $500 in restitution. Rioters who have pleaded guilty to felony charges have only been asked to pay $2,000 in restitution

Since the Jan. 6 insurrection, Howell has often questioned whether or not prosecutors are effectively working to deter similar attacks in the future.

Article by Elizabeth Letsou