Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that the January 6 deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol caused $1.5 million in damages and indicated that people accused of participating in the riots would be required to foot the bill.
The Justice Department disclosed the $1.5 million figure in a letter to defense attorney Paul Allard Hodgkins, a Florida man who pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of obstruction of formal proceedings.
“Your customer acknowledges that the January 6, 2021, riots, as of May 17, 2021, caused approximately $1495326.55 in damages to the United States Capitol Building,” reads the letter, which was sent on May 27 and posted on Wednesday.
Hodgkins’ plea deal asks him to “pay the Treasury Department $2,000,” according to the letter, first reported by the Washington Post.
The Justice Department letter did not explain how investigators came up with the $1.5 million figure.
A Justice Department spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
More than 440 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol riots, as crowds of supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol in a failed attempt to prevent Congress from certifying Democrat Joe Biden’s presidential victory.
Few pleas of guilt have been filed so far since the Justice Department launched its broad investigation into the deadly attack on Capitol Hill, a sign that prosecutors are pressing for a tough deal.
The charge against Hodgkins can carry up to 20 years in prison, although Federal District Judge Randolph Moss said federal sentencing guidelines call for a sentence of 15 to 21 months.
