Jan. 6 Defendants Sue Police Officers for ‘Millions’

A group of January 6 defendants has filed a class action lawsuit against 21 Capitol Police officers and officials for “millions of dollars in damages,” inmate Edward Jacob (Jake) Lang told the conservative cable channel Real America’s Voice on Friday.

Lang, who on his social media profile on X, formerly known as Twitter, describes himself as a “January 6 political prisoner,” was arrested soon after the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Lang was living in Newburgh, New York, and was 25 at the time of the riot.

According to an FBI affidavit from January 15, 2021, federal investigators were tipped off about Lang’s participation in the attack on the Capitol by members of the public who shared photos and videos that he himself had shared on social media. They showed that he was involved in the riot, according to the affidavit.

Lang is accused of wielding a dangerous weapon against Capitol Police officers as well as obstruction of an official proceeding. The FBI affidavit said a video showed that he “swung, thrusted, and/or jabbed” a bat at Capitol Police officers “multiple times.” He’s been in prison ever since his arrest. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Lang is now trying to sue several Capitol Police officers for damages. Interviewed by Real America’s Voice via phone on Friday, he said that over 78 January 6 defendants are claiming “millions of dollars in damages and injuries that the Capitol Police caused us, I mean, horrible.”

He added: “I got shot in the foot with a rubber bullet, other people were bludgeoned nearly to death, hit with chemical spray and had long-lasting lung effects and so… we are now serving 21 defendants… Capitol Police officers, Capitol Police officials.”

Newsweek could not verify whether a lawsuit was filed and has contacted Lang for comment by direct messaging on X early on Saturday as well as Capitol Police by email.

On X, Lang wrote that the lawsuit was “picked up by Conservative powerhouse” attorneys Stefanie Lambert and Russell Newman. Newsweek has emailed Lambert’s office.

In the tweet, Lang wrote that “17 other US Capitol Police / MPD officers & officials remain to be SERVED in the J6 Class Action Lawsuit for their actions that left 4 unarmed peaceful protestors dead.”

He also said the “highest ranking officer on J6, Eric Waldo – was served with the J6 class action lawsuit summons.” He appears to be referring to Deputy Chief Eric Waldow, but he posted a picture of Waldo, “president and CEO of Washington, DC’s largest scholarship foundation, the District of Columbia College Access Program,” according to his LinkedIn profile.

Again, Newsweek could not verify this.

Another video posted by Lang on Friday purports to show an unidentified person delivering a “service document” to Thomas DiBiase, general counsel at United States Capitol Police. In the video, DiBiase does not accept the delivery and proceeds to say it needs to be sent to his office.

Several people died during and after the January 6 attack on the Capitol, including members of law enforcement and Trump supporters.

USCP Officer Brian Sicknick, 42, who had confronted rioters, died after suffering two strokes, the Office of Chief Medical Examiner said in a report. Four other police officers—from the Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department—died by suicide after the riot.

Two people in the crowd, Kevin Greeson, 55, and Benjamin Phillips, 50, died of natural causes—of a heart attack and of a stroke, respectively—on the day of the riots, said the the Washington medical examiner. On the same day, Rosanne Boyland, 34, died of an accidental overdose. Ashli Babbitt, 35, died after being shot by a Capitol Police officer.