Taxpayers saddled with $790,000 bill for poorly-attended 'Justice for J6' rally: report

According to a report from the Washington Post, the "Justice for J6" rally in mid-September, that attracted more reporters and casual observers than rallygoers, ended up costing taxpayers over $790,000 so far for government support for the U.S. Capitol police who were out in force to prevent another Jan 6th riot.

As the Post notes, that dollar amount does not include the cost of the all-hands-on-deck response by the Capitol police and additional costs that are still being tabulated.

The rally -- organized by a former Donald Trump official -- was intended to display a show of support for the insurrectionists who have been arrested and jailed for attacking the halls of Congress on Jan 6th, but then fizzled over conspiracy rumors that it was a set-up by the U.S. government to go after Trump supporters.

As the Post reports, "Local governments and the National Guard spent at least $792,500 to assist U.S. Capitol Police in its response to the Sept. 18 'Justice for J6' rally, a small right-wing rally supporting those arrested during the insurrection that prompted a massive law enforcement response and the reinstallation of the temporary Capitol perimeter fencing."

The report goes on to add, "Agencies in and around the nation's capital are accustomed to responding to protests and demonstrations for a variety of causes. But the Sept. 18. rally, which was held on federal land near the U.S. Capitol, prompted significant media attention and a heightened security response because it was held in support of those charged in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Organizers had insisted the rally would be peaceful and ultimately, on the day of the rally, the protesters were outnumbered by journalists, police officers and counterprotesters."

Reporting that, "D.C. police had planned for the rally, asking the entire force of more than 3,500 members to work on both Sept. 17 and 18. This meant most of those officers did not receive overtime pay and instead were scheduled for alternative days off," the Post's Ellie Silverman added, "Capitol Police said on Sept. 18 that between 400 and 450 people were observed within the protest zone; however, many of those were journalists and bystanders."

You can read more here.