Judge asks why Justice Department isn’t asking US Capitol rioters for more money

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“Where Congress appropriates all this money directly as a result of the events of January 6, I have found the damage amount to be less than $ 1.5 million, while all of us American taxpayers are on the verge of footing the bill for almost half a billion dollars, a little surprising, ”said Chief Justice Beryl Howell.

“I’m used to the government being quite aggressive” in seeking redress, Howell added.

The defendant who pleaded guilty in Monday’s hearing, Glenn Wes Lee Croy, agreed to pay $ 500 in restitution, which has become typical for defendants pleading for misdemeanors. The few rioters who pleaded guilty to felony charges each agreed to pay $ 2,000 in restitution.

DC Chief Federal Judge questions misdemeanor deals for U.S. Capitol rioters

As the Justice Department ramps up efforts to secure plea deals in more than 560 federal cases related to the January 6 insurgency, according to CNN’s latest tally, Howell has repeatedly questioned whether prosecutors in did enough to deter similar attacks in the future, and whether tort plea agreements appropriately address the severity of the damage done that day.

So far, 34 people have pleaded guilty to charges arising from the riot.

Federal prosecutors say Croy bragged to an associate on social media that “I was there” on Jan.6 and shared photos of him inside the Capitol. He faces a potential maximum of six months in jail, although he may be ordered to serve much less, if not no jail time, when convicted.

Prosecutors said they would explain why they limited the restitution to $ 1.5 million before Croy was sentenced in October.

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