Imagine this: a lawyer comes forward with an eyebrow-raising plan. During a press conference this week, David Clements, who’s representing a defendant from the January 6th Capitol riot, suggested something that left many people scratching their heads. He wants the government to seize assets from Liz Cheney, the former Wyoming congresswoman, and use the funds to compensate those involved in the January 6th events. Yep, you read that right.
Clements, a former professor and full-time supporter of former President Trump, made his case with a bold statement: “There needs to be a law protecting the J6ers as a protected class,” referring to the individuals who stormed the Capitol four years ago. According to him, these people shouldn’t be discriminated against when it comes to job opportunities in the U.S.
But that’s not all. Clements also called on Trump to issue a blanket pardon to his client, Jacob Lang, and others accused of storming the Capitol. Once that’s taken care of, he wants action against Trump’s political opponents, including arresting them and diverting their funds to support the rioters who faced legal consequences for their actions.
“We want restitution,” Clements declared. He believes that members of the House Select Committee who investigated the January 6th riot, including Cheney, are guilty of “real obstruction” and should be held accountable. Clements went as far as to say that Cheney violated the law.
For those not familiar, Liz Cheney, once a Republican representative, was part of the committee that dug into the Capitol attack. She even publicly supported Kamala Harris for president in 2020, making her a controversial figure among some Republicans.
Clements, known for his unwavering support of Trump, said that this idea of “restitution” for those convicted in the January 6th riot was just the start. He went on to say that, if Trump were to return to office, he should immediately push for civil asset forfeiture—taking the assets of those involved in the Capitol attack and using them to “make things right.”
His big wish? That President Trump would issue a sweeping pardon to the rioters within his first nine minutes back in office.
“Four years have been lost,” he lamented. “People have been devastated, and justice demands that we make it right. So day one, day one, day one, President Trump. Within the first nine minutes, we want those doors open. We want to march over to the D.C. gulag and welcome them back as heroes.”
While this plan is certainly bold, it’s also a bit out there, leaving many to wonder how far the political winds might blow in the coming years. Whatever the outcome, it’s clear that the conversation about the Capitol riot—and its aftermath—continues to stir strong emotions on all sides.