From insurrectionist to millionaire overnight -- issue 100 percent tax on them

 from insurrectionist to millionaire overnight

• Public Citizen 

  citizen.org

  From:president@citizen.org

  
  

  To:m.mk@...

  Tue, May 26 2026 at 3:04 PM

  “[N]either the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States … all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void.”
  
  That is from the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution — passed after the Civil War to bring some measure of racial equality to our nation’s laws.
  

  • It almost seems like something that would not need to be spelled out. Of course the government should not give money to anyone who fought to overthrow it.

  • But the worry that people who engaged in insurrection would turn around and demand compensation was real enough that a rule prohibiting it did need to be written down. In fact, it is one entire sentence in an amendment that is only nine sentences overall.

  • In flagrant violation of the 14th Amendment, Donald Trump has concocted a $1.8 billion, taxpayer-funded slush fund for MAGA loyalists — quite possibly including just about everyone convicted of crimes on and leading up to the attempted coup d’etat carried out in Trump’s name on January 6, 2021.

  • Congress can and should prevent the fund from taking any money out of the Treasury and making any payments to anybody.

  In case Trump’s $1.8 billion slush fund for MAGA crooks, cronies, and criminals begins disbursing payments in defiance of the law, Congress should pass emergency legislation imposing a 100% tax on any and all payments anyone receives from it.
  
  Congratulations insurrectionist, here’s a check for $1,000,000.
  
  And here’s your bill from the IRS for $1,000,000.
  
  
  Thanks for taking action.
  
  For justice,
  
  - Lisa Gilbert & Robert Weissman, Co-Presidents of Public Citizen