Dinesh and Debbie D’Souza will donate $100,000 to a nonprofit fund that will give immediate financial relief to the families of Americans detained for their involvement in the Capitol protest on January 6.
Dozens of Americans who’ve been arrested and charged have languished in jail for months awaiting trial, denied bail by federal judges as Joe Biden’s Justice Department repeatedly seeks pre-trial detention even for nonviolent offenders. Many remain held in a D.C. jail used specifically to house January 6 protesters, creating a class of political prisoners who face an unequal system of justice based on their political views and activity. This group includes veterans, former law enforcement officers, and active military personnel.
Their families, meanwhile, are falling behind on mortgage and rent payments. Their small businesses have been shuttered. Utility bills, car payments, tuition installments, and day-to-day expenses are piling up with no way to pay them. Moms are worried about buying clothes and supplies for the new school year.
Cynthia Hughes, a New Jersey mom of four, has emerged as the family advocate. Her adoptive nephew, Tim Hale-Cusanelli, was arrested January 15 and has been behind bars ever since.
Hughes created the Patriot Freedom Project to collect donations and provide monetary assistance to families in need. “Our group is a safe haven, a place of comfort and support,” Hughes told me. “Women truly are struggling not only with the separation from their husband but even more so financially. Some have gone from two incomes to one or even worse none. As long as these men continue to be held in this unjust manner we the people have to step in and provide the support these families so desperately need.”
The D’Souzas are doing just that. “Our reason is two-fold,” Dinesh D’Souza told me by phone Tuesday. “This is a group of people that have been forgotten by America. It saddens but also outrages me. They’ve been abandoned by their own side, which I find horrifying.” He hopes the generous contribution will motivate other Americans to donate as well.
“I really cannot believe that we are living in the United States of America. I thought political prisoners only existed in Venezuela and other communist countries,” Debbie said. Born in Venezuela, Debbie immigrated to the U.S. with her family when she was ten years-old. “I’ve been making comparisons to the political left in America to Venezuela. There are numerous parallels. Now we have people who are incarcerated for believing anything other than the government narrative.”
Hughes will appear on D’Souza’s podcast later this week to discuss the fund, the needs of the families, and how resources will be allocated.
Individuals can donate or find out more about the Patriot Freedom Project at www.patriotfreedomproject.com.