Government Estimates $2.73 Million In Property Damage

Topline

Federal authorities raised their estimate of property damage due to the January 6 Capitol riot to $2.73 million, according to a Friday court filing in the case of a man who pleaded guilty to participating in the riot, which left windows broken, doors splintered and paintings stained with pepper spray and tear gas.

Key Facts

In March, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia estimated that the riot had caused about $1.5 million in property damage.

But Friday’s filing included a revised $2,734,783.14 estimate from the Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol Police, the House Chief Administrative Office and the Senate Sergeant at Arms.

The final cost of the Capitol riot could exceed $30 million, taking into account the cost of mental health counseling for riot victims and other more indirect costs incurred by rioters, Brett Blanton, the architect of the Capitol, told Congress in February 2021.

An investigation into losses due to the riot, including damage to the Capitol Building itself and the surrounding area, is ongoing, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said in a statement.

Key Background

During the riot, Capitol employees raced to save the building’s artwork and furnishings, opening vents to let out chemical fumes and saving items like the roughly 203-year-old silver inkstand present at most House sessions, likely the oldest artifact in the House chambers. Despite this, numerous artworks were damaged, including five granite and marble busts of former speakers of the House, a bronze bust of Chippewa chief Beshekee, two portraits of former presidents and a statue of Thomas Jefferson, all of which were covered in chemical residue during the attack. Conservators told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch they would undertake about six projects annually to repair damage from the riot, costing $25,000 during the first year and between $1,000 and $25,000 per year subsequently. However, these costs were dwarfed by the price tag for increased security around the Capitol in the two months following the riot, which cost at least $30 million.

Tangent

Friday’s updated property damage estimate was disclosed at a hearing for Anthony Vuksanaj, 52, of Mahopac, New York, who pled guilty to charges in connection to his participation in the riot and agreed to pay $500 in restitution to the Department of the Treasury and who could face an additional $5,000 in fines plus additional restitution and six months in prison.

What We Don’t Know

Federal authorities have not announced why property damage estimates from the riot have risen so precipitously since March.

Further Reading

“Art Damaged During The Capitol Riots Will Likely Cost $25,000 To Repair” (Forbes)