More than 350 people who were charged in connection with the protests that took place on January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol have joined a new $50 billion class action lawsuit against the Department of Justice, accusing the agency of weaponizing the justice system and government overreach.
The lawsuit, announced on December 27, accuses the Department of Justice (DOJ) of widespread human rights violations, politically motivated prosecutions, and mistreatment of those charged with offenses related to the January 6 (J6) protests.
The plaintiffs assert that their treatment has been inconsistent with basic constitutional protections, alleging solitary confinement, inadequate legal counsel or public defense options, and substandard living conditions in prison. They further argue that the DOJ’s actions were motivated by political bias, targeting their beliefs rather than any concrete criminal behavior, as detailed in a report from EconoTimes.
“This massive lawsuit should knock the DOJ back on its heels,” said Monty Bennett, political activist and publisher of The Dallas Express. “They excessively prosecuted innocents with over-zealous interpretations of already overreaching federal laws. Shame on them.”
The class action lawsuit is led by Jake Lang — who has been in jail for nearly 4 years awaiting trial on J6 charges — and the legal group Federal Watchdog. The suit challenges some of the narrative surrounding the events of January 6, which the mainstream media has previously labeled as an “insurrection” or a “riot.”
“Only chumps still think January 6 was an ‘insurrection,’” said Bennett. “No one even had a gun! It was a setup from the start. They provoked the crowd from the start, shooting tear gas at me and others for no reason.”
“Everyone there already knew there were many informants present,” Bennett said. “I can also tell you that there were many ANTIFA present, dressed as Trump supporters. Zealots will never change their mind about what really happened that day because they are too bought into the narrative that the far-left mainstream media fed them,” he added.
The lawsuit has sparked commentary across the country, including on the social media platform X, as reported by EconoTimes.
Netizen @Justice4All2024: wrote, “Finally, someone is standing up to the DOJ. This is about more than politics. It’s about fairness.”
Media user @DueProcessMatters: posted, “If the DOJ violated their rights, it needs to be held accountable. Justice isn’t selective.”
Bo French, Tarrant County GOP Chair, also posted on X in response to the announcement of the lawsuit.
“This is the way. Uniparty swamp dweller heads exploding in 3, 2, 1….”
However, others expressed disagreement with the lawsuit.
Social media user @CapitolStrong: said, “This lawsuit is outrageous. January 6 wasn’t about rights; it was an attack on democracy.”
Another netizen, @DemocracyDefender, stated, “This lawsuit is an insult to those who defended the Capitol that day. Shame on them.”
As the lawsuit progresses, the public will be watching closely, as the outcome will likely shape the political and legal landscape for years to come. For now, two big questions linger: Is this new lawsuit a step toward justice for those prosecuted for their involvement in the J6 events, and will Trump deliver on his campaign promise of pardons for J6 prisoners?