DOJ Targeting Funds Donated To Defend Jan. 6 Protesters
Many Americans have reached out to support Jan. 6 protesters who had their lives ripped apart through extensive government prosecutions. Now that same government is coming after those donations.
One example is Daniel Goodwyn of Texas, who appeared on Fox News less than two months after pleading guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol. While on Tucker Carlson’s former program, he pitched a website through which donors could support him and others.
He brought in over $25,000 in donations, and now Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) is targeting those funds.
An examination of over 1,000 criminal cases stemming from the Jan. 6 Capitol incident by the Associated Press showed prosecutors are now asking for fines in conjunction with prison time. These fines are to make up for donations supporting the protesters.
Prosecutors admit that there is nothing wrong with defendants asking for assistance in paying for legal fees. This is a common practice using online crowdfunding platforms.
The DOJ, however, raised questions as to where the money is being spent since many of the defendants are being represented by government-funded attorneys.
Much of it is raised through GiveSendGo, the platform utilized by many of those being prosecuted. Other sites, including GoFundMe, barred protesters from Jan. 6 from using their services to raise funds.
On GiveSendGo, protesters often declare their innocence and ask for help in fighting government actions against them.
One Virginia man, Markus Maly, raised over $16,000 while describing himself as a “January 6 POW.” Prosecutors then asked for a fine in excess of $16,000, saying that Maly had a public defender and did not rack up legal fees.
This, of course, ignores the financial strain put on the defendants and their families, particularly those who have served or must now serve time for their protests.
The AP noted that prosecutors in 2023 alone have asked for fines over $390,000 to be levied against at least 21 protest defendants. The totals ranged from $450 to more than $71,000.
So far, judges have imposed over $124,000 in fines against 33 defendants in 2023. That’s on top of previous fines on over 100 defendants totalling more than $240,000.
