Lawmaker Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is pushing the Department of Veterans Affairs to revoke benefits from veterans who were at the January 6th U.S. Capitol riot.
Gallego served in the military himself, but claims those veterans are "not representative of the large population of American veterans.”
He says they deserve to be punished.
The request to withdraw the veterans' benefits was officially made in a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough.
“Many of the veterans and service members who attacked their own government actively and enthusiastically enjoy special benefits given to them by their fellow citizens,” Gallego stated.
“This situation is unjust. Any veteran or service member who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 forfeited their moral entitlement to privileged benefits at the expense of the people of the United States,” Gallego declared.
Gallego is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee.
Gallego asked McDonough to reach out to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to figure out all the veterans that took part in the Jan. 6 events.
Once identified, he wants those veterans’ benefits to be stripped.
NPR previously reported that approximately 20% of the 140 people who were charged with crimes in connection with the January 6 riots have a military background.
In the months since that report came out, more than 300 people have now been charged.