Trump floats payouts for Jan 6 rioters who assaulted police, says many 'should be compensated'

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald J Trump has thrust his administration back into one of the most polarizing debates of his presidency, refusing to rule out taxpayer-funded payouts for January 6 defendants, including those charged with assaulting law enforcement.

Speaking from a rain-slicked barn during a volatile interview with NBC News’ 'Meet the Press' on Sunday, June 7, Trump mounted a full-throated defense of his proposed $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, arguing that the individuals who breached the US Capitol were unfairly destroyed by politicized prosecutions.

The executive intervention directly contradicted recent statements from his own Justice Department.

Just five days prior, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche flatly told lawmakers that the administration was not moving forward with the financial pool, which originated from a legal settlement over Trump’s leaked tax returns.

When pressed by moderator Kristen Welker on whether individuals who actively beat police officers should receive government compensation, Trump refused to close the door, stating, “I wouldn’t be inclined to say so, but I have to see it,” before asserting that many affected families deserve substantial financial redress.

Executive defends stalled compensation fund

Trump used the prime-time appearance to re-verify his commitment to the economic relief package, which remains temporarily frozen by a federal judge's injunction.

He claimed the Biden administration weaponized justice apparatuses to target everyday citizens, driving some to job loss and total financial ruin.

“If it was up to me, I’d pay them the kind of money that they deserve,” Trump insisted, describing federal prosecutors as radical left lunatics.

The president claimed that many of the 1,600 people charged in connection with the Capitol attack only entered plea deals because they were frightened by threats of excessive prison sentences.

President repeats unverified security claims

The interview grew increasingly contentious when Trump claimed that embedded FBI agents actively ushered peaceful crowds into the building.

When Welker noted that extensive video documentation explicitly showed a pro-Trump group breaking windows and pinning officers in doorways, Trump fired back at the press, commanding her to look at the tapes.

The administration's push for financial compensation lands despite official findings that more than 140 police officers were injured in what federal prosecutors labeled as the largest single-day mass assault on law enforcement in US history.

Trump, who already pardoned roughly 1,500 rioters on his first day back in office, maintained that independent administrators would ultimately evaluate the merits of individual payout applications.

Unsubstantiated fraud allegations target California

Trump subsequently segued from the Capitol cases to launch a scathing attack against the unresolved June 3 primary tallies in California, baselessly alleging that state Democrats are actively cheating.

He expressed severe frustration that election clerks were taking weeks to finalize the outcome for the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral races.

Under California state law, mail-in ballots are eligible to be counted as long as they are postmarked by Election Day and received within a seven-day window.

Although NBC News projected that Democrat Xavier Becerra would advance to the general election for governor, the second spot remains locked in a tight verification battle between billionaire Tom Steyer and Trump-backed conservative Steve Hilton. Asked for concrete evidence of fraud, Trump deflected, stating, “All I have to do is look.”