Attorney for Jan. 6 Defendant Calls for Liz Cheney’s Asset Seizure and Protected Status for Capitol Rioters

David Clements, an attorney representing Jacob Lang, a defendant in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, has called for the government to seize former Rep. Liz Cheney’s (R-WY) assets to provide restitution for individuals charged in connection with the attack. His remarks came during a news conference on the fourth anniversary of the Capitol riot, where he also urged President-elect Donald Trump to pardon his client.

“We want restitution,” Clements declared. “There are ways to go about getting restitution. Everyone on the unselect committee is actually guilty… When you look at obstruction, real obstruction, when you apply the black letter law, the Liz Cheney’s of the world violated that statute.”

Clements went further, demanding Cheney’s arrest and advocating for civil asset forfeiture. “Assets should be taken, and that should be the money that’s used to make you all whole,” he said.

In addition to these demands, Clements proposed that Congress pass a law granting Jan. 6 defendants the status of a protected class, similar to protections afforded on the basis of race, sex, and religion.

“There needs to be a law that protects the J6ers as a protected class so they cannot be discriminated against in the job market,” Clements explained. “There’s going to be a lot of woke, leftist, radical Marxists that are going to punish you.”

“So I propose that there’s a law that treats the J6ers as a protected class, that you can’t discriminate against them, or there will be legal penalties for that,” he added. “This is just the beginning.”

Jacob Lang, Clements’ client, was arrested on January 16, 2021, for his role in the Capitol riot. According to the Department of Justice, Lang faces multiple charges, including assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon, obstruction of an official proceeding, and acts of physical violence on Capitol grounds.

Lang’s legal team has repeatedly sought delays in his trial, including a request in November shortly before it was set to commence. Clements’ remarks have drawn sharp criticism for their extreme proposals and characterization of the events surrounding January 6. His call to protect the Jan. 6 defendants as a class and to use seized assets from prominent figures like Cheney has added fuel to the ongoing debate over accountability, justice, and the legacy of the Capitol attack.