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Norton Releases Remarks from Press Conference with D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine on January 6 Insurrection Lawsuit

December 14, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C.–– Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released her remarks from this morning's press conference with District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine announcing D.C.'s lawsuit against the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and others for damages D.C. incurred during the January 6th insurrection. Norton thanked Racine for filing the lawsuit and noted, "I was able to secure a $9.1 million federal payment to the District in an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that was signed into law in July to compensate D.C. for the direct costs of responding to the attack. It is appropriate that the perpetrators of the attack compensate D.C. for the other costs D.C. incurred that day, including for medical treatment and paid leave, which are outside the scope of the funding I was able to secure for the District. From damage to police property to medical expenses related to the attack, the perpetrators, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, must pay D.C."

Norton's remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow.

Statement for 12/13 Press Conference with AG Racine

I want to express my appreciation to D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine for filing this important lawsuit.

On January 6th, the U.S. Capitol was attacked by individuals seeking to overturn our democratic form of government. While President Trump refused to send in the D.C. National Guard to the Capitol, the Metropolitan Police Department voluntarily responded, protecting the Capitol, Congress and democracy itself.

Despite the ongoing attack, Trump delayed deploying the D.C. National Guard to defend the Capitol for hours. To ensure this would never happen again, and to provide greater home rule and equality for D.C., I was able to get included in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act my D.C. National Guard Home Rule Act, which would give the D.C. mayor control over the D.C. National Guard. I am very disappointed, however, that Republicans fought this provision and it was dropped from the final version of the National Defense Authorization Act.

In their work defending the Capitol on that day, D.C., and the Metropolitan Police Department in particular, of course, incurred expenses. I was able to secure a $9.1 million federal payment to the District in an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that was signed into law in July to compensate D.C. for the direct costs of responding to the attack. It is appropriate that the perpetrators of the attack compensate D.C. for the other costs D.C. incurred that day, including for medical treatment and paid leave, which are outside the scope of the funding I was able to secure for the District. From damage to police property to medical expenses related to the attack, the perpetrators, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, must pay D.C. I strongly support appreciate the filing of this lawsuit.

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