Can pardoned rioters reclaim the fines they paid for Capitol damage?

Following the 2025 presidential pardons of over 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, a new legal question has emerged. Many of these individuals paid court-ordered fines to cover repair costs, and some are now seeking to have those payments returned to them.

In 2025, President Trump issued pardons for more than 1,500 people convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. A significant portion of the financial penalties levied against these individuals was designated for the restoration of the Capitol building itself.

The central issue now is whether a presidential pardon automatically entitles a convicted person to a refund of fines already paid to the government. This situation highlights the complex intersection of executive clemency and the restitution of public funds used for property repairs.

Source: Jan. 6ers already got pardoned. Will they get their money back too? | The Indicator