Mike Pence Criticizes Trump's Compensation Fund for January 6 Rioters

Mike Pence, the former Vice-President, has publicly condemned the Trump administration's $1.8 billion fund intended to compensate individuals alleging unfair treatment by previous governments. He described the fund, which could potentially assist those prosecuted for their involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, as a "bad idea from the start" and called for its termination.

During an interview with NBC, Pence, who was in the Capitol when the rioters stormed the building, expressed that it's "deeply offensive" for such a fund to exist. He emphasized that many, including Republicans and Americans in general, share his view that it is inappropriate for a fund to possibly compensate individuals charged with assaulting police officers and vandalizing the Capitol.

Created as part of a settlement following a lawsuit filed by Trump against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regarding leaked tax records, the fund has garnered scrutiny from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers, some of whom faced threats during the riot. Recently, a federal judge blocked its establishment pending a hearing scheduled for June 12. A spokesperson for the Department of Justice expressed confidence in the fund's legality and stated their commitment to providing restitution to victims of perceived government overreach.