Get you up to speed: Justice Dept. moves to dismiss Jan. 6 class action lawsuit
The Justice Department has moved to dismiss a class action lawsuit by Jan. 6 defendants, arguing that their claims are barred by the statute of limitations. The lawsuit pertains to injuries allegedly suffered due to excessive police force during the events of January 6, 2021.
The Justice Department’s motion to dismiss the class action lawsuit argues that the claims are barred by the statute of limitations, which ended on January 6, 2023. Additionally, the earliest claim filed by the plaintiffs was dated July 29, 2025, indicating they missed the two-year deadline required under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
The Justice Department has moved to dismiss a class action lawsuit from Jan. 6 defendants, citing expired deadlines for claims filed under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s recent order rescinding a related “anti-weaponization” fund does not prevent future government restitution to convicted rioters, according to a former Justice Department lawyer.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain whether the Justice Department will allow any future claims related to the Jan. 6 riots under the rescinded fund.
Justice Department seeks to dismiss class action lawsuit from Jan. 6 defendants
Jake Rosen is a reporter covering the Department of Justice. He was previously a campaign digital reporter covering President Trump’s 2024 campaign and also served as an associate producer for “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”
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The Justice Department moved Monday to dismiss a class action lawsuit brought by Jan. 6 defendants under the Federal Tort Claims Act, arguing that the claims brought by the rioters are prohibited because they were filed after the statute of limitations had expired.
“All the claims in the Complaint are ‘forever barred’ due to the failure to timely file the administrative claim with the agency,” the Justice Department said in its filing.
The plaintiffs complained of injuries they had suffered on Jan. 6, 2021, due to “excessive police force.” The Justice Department said that the plaintiffs submitted forms that “were only partially completed” and said some lacked signatures and supporting documentation.
Also, under the FTCA, plaintiffs have two years to bring a lawsuit, and there are a few additional deadlines that must be met in order to sue the federal government under the FTCA. The Justice Department noted that the plaintiffs alleged “that they were injured by the police actions that occurred on January 6, 2021.” Therefore, the department said in its filing, the rioters had until Jan. 6, 2023, to sue the federal government under the Act.
The Justice Department pointed out that the “earliest claim of the Named Plaintiffs was dated July 29, 2025,” well beyond two-year period allowed under the FTCA.
The department argued that the plaintiffs “knew that they were injured and knew who injured them, but they instead chose to wait until well past the deadline to file the claims.”
On Sunday evening, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued an order rescinding a $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that was meant to compensate allies of President Trump. The order, however, does not include language that would bar government restitution or payouts to convicted Jan. 6 rioters.
A former Justice Department lawyer said Blanche’s unilateral rescission of the “anti-weaponization” fund has no legal effect and doesn’t prevent the fund from being revived in the future.