A federal judge on Wednesday ordered one of the organizers of President Donald Trump's rally on Jan. 6, 2021 that preceded the riot at the Capitol building to pay $2,000 per day until she turns over records that have been subpoenaed in a lawsuit.
U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks criticized a "pattern of disregard and non-engagement" by Caroline Wren, a Republican fundraiser who helped organize the rally at the Ellipse and who is being sued by Capitol Police officers who argue that President Donald Trump's speech at the rally led to the riot.
Middlebrooks said that Wren has prevented officers from accessing records about the planning and fundraising for the event, as well as communications about security, "to which they are entitled" under rules of discovery.
"I do find her in civil contempt and will impose a fine of $2,000 a day until she complies," Middlebrooks said at a hearing on Wednesday.
"If these fines prove ineffective, I will consider additional steps to spur her compliance," the judge added. He later noted during the hearing that he would rather not "resort to incarceration."
Theodore Bunker ✉
Theodore Bunker, a Newsmax writer, has more than a decade covering news, media, and politics.