Justice Department Seeks Dismissal of Jan. 6 Lawsuit

The Justice Department has moved to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by Jan. 6 defendants under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). The department cites the expiration of the statute of limitations as the main reason for dismissal.

Claims Barred by Missed Deadline

According to the Justice Department, all claims in the complaint are barred because the administrative claim was not filed on time. Under the FTCA, plaintiffs have a two-year window to initiate a lawsuit. The deadline to file claims related to the Jan. 6, 2021 incident was Jan. 6, 2023. The earliest of the plaintiffs’ claims was dated July 29, 2025, far past the permissible filing period.

The defendants allege they suffered from excessive police force during the January 6 events. However, the Justice Department highlighted that the submitted forms were incomplete. Some forms lacked signatures and supporting documentation.

Acting Attorney General’s Funding Decision

In a related decision, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche rescinded a $1.8 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund. This fund had been intended to compensate allies of former President Trump. The rescission does not prevent potential government payouts to convicted Jan. 6 rioters.

A former Justice Department lawyer noted that Blanche’s order to rescind the fund has no legal impact. It does not rule out the possibility of reviving the fund later.