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Accused Capitol rioters have raised more than $2M for their legal funds from conservative grassroots crowdsourcing sites: Feds fear the money makes defendants flight risks

Capitol rioters have raised more than $2 million for legal fees and other expenses, but the hefty sums are drawing the eye of federal prosecutors who argue the donations pose a flight risk for some defendants.

Much of the money has been collected on GiveSendGo, a Christian fundraising site that prides itself on donors 'praying over our campaigns.'

A fundraiser for Joshua James, who was arrested in Arab, Alabama in March on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding and illegal entry of a restricted building, has raised more than $192,798.  

The Department of Justice alleges that the 33-year-old and a fellow member of the Oath Keepers, a right-wing anti-government militia, 'drove to the Capitol in a golf cart, at times swerving around law enforcement vehicles' before 'forcibly' entering the building on January 6.

James' wife Audrey says she doesn't know how she'll support herself as a real estate agent with three children, including a three-year-old, while her husband's in jail. 

Joshua James, 33, has raised close to $200,000 for legal and family expenses on the Christian fundraising website GiveSendGo after he was arrested for participating in the Jan. 6 riot

Joshua James, 33, has raised close to $200,000 for legal and family expenses on the Christian fundraising website GiveSendGo after he was arrested for participating in the Jan. 6 riot

'Thank you for helping us fight for truth, justice and to bring our Veteran home,' she wrote in the fundraising page she created for him, adding that he's a Purple Heart recipient.

More than 600 people have been charged in connection with the storming of the Capitol. 

Prosecutors are taking note of the cash coming in, and the Justice Department opposed a request from James to be released from home confinement earlier in the summer, according to CNN.

'James argues that he was the 'primary breadwinner for his family' and 'has been unable to earn any income since his arrest.' Yet, James's spouse started soliciting donations on the internet for James and his family within days of his arrest.'

The Department of Justice alleges that James swerved law enforcement in a golf cart with another member of the Oath Keepers while trying to enter the Capitol building

They added that James' family 'appears to be supporting themselves without needing to let James out of home detention.'

Similarly, a judge determined that the 'QAnon Shaman' Jacob Chansley posed a flight risk due to the amount of money he's raised online.  

In July, District Judge Royce Lamberth spoke of Chansley's ability to 'quickly raise large sums of money for travel through non-traditional sources' and to travel using 'untraceable methods.'

A judge ruled that 'QAnon Shaman' Jacob Chanley, above, posed a flight risk because of the 'large sums of money' he's raised that allow him to travel using 'untraceable methods'

A judge ruled that 'QAnon Shaman' Jacob Chanley, above, posed a flight risk because of the 'large sums of money' he's raised that allow him to travel using 'untraceable methods'

'No conditions of release would reasonably assure his appearance as required,' Lamberth wrote.

The January 6 riot took place as Congress certified election results in favor of President Joe Biden. Former President Donald Trump claimed the election was 'stolen' from him and urged supporters to march to the Capitol and 'fight like hell.' 

A riot ensued and one protester, Ashli Babbitt was shot dead by Capitol cop as she tried to break into the building. 

The January 6 riot took place after President Trump urged his supporters to march to the Capitol, where Congress was certifying election results

The January 6 riot took place after President Trump urged his supporters to march to the Capitol, where Congress was certifying election results

A riot ensued and one protester, Ashli Babbitt was shot dead by Capitol cop as she tried to break into the building.

A riot ensued and one protester, Ashli Babbitt was shot dead by Capitol cop as she tried to break into the building. 

Capitol rioters are also asking for donations on Our Freedom Funding, which describes itself as the '#1 unbiased platform on the internet!' 

The wife of Dominic Pezzola, 43, has raised $25 out of a $175,000 goal on the site, where she claims her husband is repeatedly thrown into solitary confinement for speaking out about his treatment in prison.

'Our youngest daughter had to forego her school year and summer activities and trips because of the lack of her father's income,' she wrote on his fundraising page.

She added: 'In this time, he has undergone inhumane treatment in the deplorable DC jail. He has been refused basic human rights, medical care, and access to his attorney by the super liberal authorities in charge.' 

 

Dominic Pezzola's wife has raised $25 on Our Freedom Funding, alleging that her daughter had to 'forego her school year' when the family lost income after Pezzola's arrest

Dominic Pezzola's wife has raised $25 on Our Freedom Funding, alleging that her daughter had to 'forego her school year' when the family lost income after Pezzola's arrest

The DOJ alleges that Pezzola broke a window at the Capitol and smoked a cigar inside, with video showing him 'saying words to the effect of, 'Victory smoke in the Capitol, boys. This is f***ing awesome. I knew we could take this mother***er over if just tried hard enough.''

Pezzola, who is from Rochester, New York, was charged with unlawful entry, destruction of government property and obstruction of an official proceeding.

A GiveSendGo campaign for Kyle Young, 37, started by his wife Andrea warns that her and their four children could soon lose their house.  

The wife of capitol rioter Kyle Young says her and their four kids could soon be homeless after Kyle was arrested in April after being indicted on 13 counts, including assaulting an officer

A $25 donor tells Young's wife: 'God bless your wonderful family. Your husband is a patriot'

A $25 donor tells Young's wife: 'God bless your wonderful family. Your husband is a patriot'

The page reads: 'My job isn't enough to pay all our bills and I am afraid we could lose our home. Any help we get will make sure my children and I can stay in our family home, pay for Kyles defense, help us keep in touch with Kyle and make sure he can get food while he is jailed. Kyle lost 17 pounds in the first month and a half of being incarcerated. Please pray for us.'

Young, from Redfield, Iowa, was indicted on 13 counts, including assault on Washington, DC police officer Michael Fanone.

Fanone suffered a heart attack, a concussion and a traumatic brain injury after rushing to the Capitol to help officers there quell the unrest.

He was dragged down the Capitol steps, beaten and tasered until he shouted that he had children, inspiring a few in the crowd to protect him and pull him back up the stairs to other officers, according to the Washington Post. 

Young allegedly assaulted Washington, DC police officer Michael Fanone. Above, Fanone testifies in front of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 riot on July 27

Young allegedly assaulted Washington, DC police officer Michael Fanone. Above, Fanone testifies in front of the House Select Committee investigating the January 6 riot on July 27

A $25 donor wrote to Young's wife: 'God bless your wonderful family. Your husband is a patriot and our justice dept has run amok!'

One expert said the online cash flow could jeopardize some of the defendants' ability to use public defenders.  

'If the US attorney's office wanted to come in and file a motion to say that the economic circumstances of these people have changed so that they should no longer get a public defender, I think that the court would take that seriously,' University of North Carolina criminal law professor Carissa Byrne Hessick told CNN.

'It's the same as if someone has a public defender and suddenly won the lottery.'

Troy Smocks of Dallas, Texas was arrested on January 15, according to the Justice Department.

They allege that Smocks used the conservative social media app Parler to say he would 'hunt these cowards down like the Traitors that each of them are,' specifically threatening 'RINOS, Dems, and Tech Execs.' 

He jokingly referred to himself as a white supremacist in his GiveSendGo campaign, which has raised close to $2,400.

Troy Smocks, 58, has raised close to $2,400 on a page calling himself 'the first black political prisoner from January 6'

Troy Smocks, 58, has raised close to $2,400 on a page calling himself 'the first black political prisoner from January 6'

'I wasn't always a White Supremest , in fact, I was actually born a black American. But late last year, crazy Joe Biden said that, "if I did not vote for him, then 'I ain't black'". And I didn't vote for crazy Joe. But it wasn't until the date of January 15, 2021, when I first discovered that I was in deed, a White Supremest . This was the day that I was arrested at my Dallas, Texas, home by a 30 member FBI SWAT team, in connection with the events at the U.S. Capital on January 6th.' 

A commenters named Brian, who donated $10, wrote: 'Stay strong, Sir! I think of all of you daily, and hope for an end to the unconstitutional madness that has left a stain on our justice system.'

Some of the fundraisers claim the rioters are being overcharged by the federal government.

'The prosecution is inflating, what would otherwise be minor citations, into felonies to put him in prison for as long as possible. He's being denied bail by one judge, even though his charges are non-violent and was granted bail by another judge,' reads a fundraiser for Zach Rehl on Our Freedom Funding.

 

Zach Rehl, president of the Philadelphia Proud Boys, raised $4,300. He was charged with conspiracy, destruction of government property and obstruction of law enforcement

Zach Rehl, president of the Philadelphia Proud Boys, raised $4,300. He was charged with conspiracy, destruction of government property and obstruction of law enforcement

Rehl is the president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Proud Boys, which some scholars have called a 'neo-fascist' organization.

He has raised $4,300 on the platform after his arrest in March on multiple charges, including conspiracy, destruction of government property and obstruction of law enforcement.

'Zach has now been a political prisoner for 3 months. He has missed the birth of his second daughter. Whatever minor infraction he may have committed, he's paid for and then some'

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