DOJ Moves To Confiscate Donations Made To Rioters

The Associated Press reports:

Less than two months after he pleaded guilty to storming the U.S. Capitol, Texas resident Daniel Goodwyn appeared on Tucker Carlson’s then-Fox News show and promoted a website where supporters could donate money to Goodwyn and other rioters whom the site called “political prisoners.”

The Justice Department now wants Goodwyn to give up more than $25,000 he raised — a clawback that is part of a growing effort by the government to prevent rioters from being able to personally profit from participating in the attack that shook the foundations of American democracy.

Most of the fundraising efforts appear on GiveSendGo, which bills itself as “The #1 Free Christian Fundraising Site” and has become a haven for Jan. 6 defendants barred from using mainstream crowdfunding sites, including GoFundMe, to raise money. The rioters often proclaim their innocence and portray themselves as victims of government oppression, even as they cut deals to plead guilty and cooperate with prosecutors.

Read the full article.

Per the AP, the DOJ is especially going after rioters who use public defenders and therefore have no personal legal fees. It’s not clear how many fall into that category.

One such rioter’s money beg describes him as “Beijing Biden’s political prisoner” and includes a link to his website where he sells advice on “how to transform yourself into a confident alpha male.” Another link directs prospective donors to his bodybuilding supplements website. His donations stand at $111,537 but the page notes that the drive has now been “disabled,” hopefully thanks to the DOJ.

Jan. 6 rioters are raking in thousands in donations. Prosecutors are coming after their haul to prevent them from profiting from the attack. https://t.co/74ap0M8z0I

— The Associated Press (@AP) May 28, 2023