Justice Department Moves to Dismiss Jan. 6 Defendants’ Lawsuit

The Justice Department has filed a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit brought by January 6 defendants. The lawsuit was filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). The department argued that the claims are invalid because they were filed after the statute of limitations had expired.

Details of the Case

According to the Justice Department, all claims are barred because the administrative claim was not filed in time. Plaintiffs alleged injuries due to “excessive police force” during the events of January 6, 2021. The department noted that forms submitted by the plaintiffs were incomplete, missing signatures or documentation.

The FTCA has specific deadlines. Plaintiffs must file a lawsuit within two years, meeting additional criteria to sue the federal government. As the injuries occurred on January 6, 2021, the department stated that lawsuits should have been filed by January 6, 2023.

The Justice Department highlighted that the earliest claim among the plaintiffs was dated July 29, 2025. This date exceeds the two-year limit set under the FTCA. The department added that the plaintiffs knew both the injury and its cause early on, yet delayed filing until well after the deadline.

Recent Developments

On Sunday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinded a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund. This fund was intended to help President Trump’s allies. However, the order does not prevent future compensation or payouts to convicted January 6 rioters.

A former Justice Department lawyer commented that Blanche’s action is legally ineffective. It does not preclude the revival of the fund in the future.