A Minnesota state Senator is encouraging supporters to donate to a Lindstrom family facing federal criminal charges in connection with participating in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Sen. Mark Koran, a North Branch Republican whose district includes the small town 40 miles northeast of the Twin Cities, on Friday posted a link to a crowdfunding site launched by a member of the Westbury family — four members of which are now among the eight Minnesotans to be charged so far with crimes related to the deadly Capitol riot.

"Here's a local family in Lindstrom who can use some help," Koran wrote. "They attended the Jan 6th Rally and have been accused and charged with a variety of crimes. Some very serious and some which seem to be just to punish opposing views. All I'm asking is that they need assistance to mount a fair defense from an over bearing Dept of Justice. They are a good family!"

Messages were left seeking comment from Koran on Friday.

Earlier this month, prosecutors in the District of Columbia charged Robert Westbury, 62, Isaac Westbury, 19, and a third man, Aaron James, 35, with crimes ranging from assaulting Capitol police officers to disrupting government business. The arrests occurred barely six months after another son, Jonah Westbury, 26, was charged in connection with the Capitol siege...

...The crowdfunding campaign that Koran promoted on Friday was created by Rosemarie Westbury, who identified herself as the wife of Robert Westbury and mother of the other three defendants.

"My family is being targeted by this illegitimate [sic], tyrannical government," Rosemarie Westbury wrote on the website, which included a series of photos of armed law enforcement officers purportedly carrying out the Oct. 4 arrest operation at the family's Lindstrom home.