Federal judge blocks DOJ’s $1.776 billion ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
A federal judge, Leonie Brinkema, temporarily blocked the DOJ’s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” which was created to compensate allies of President Donald Trump and others who claim they were politically targeted during the Biden administration. the order bars the DOJ from creating, operating, evaluating claims for, or disbursing money from the fund while the case proceeds, with a hearing set for June 12.
DOJ leadership said the programme would “make right” alleged past wrongs, claimed it would be nonpartisan, and said the fund would sunset on Dec. 1, 2028 with remaining funds reverting to the federal government.Democrats and some Republicans have criticized the initiative,and it has faced multiple lawsuits,including challenges filed in Virginia and Washington,D.C. Some states have proposed taxing payouts-most notably California, were Gov. Gavin Newsom called it a “January 6 slush fund”-though Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed the proposal.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Justice Department‘s $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization fund” aimed at compensating allies of President Donald Trump and others who say they were politically targeted by the DOJ during the Biden administration.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, issued a temporary halt on any actions regarding the fund, which was announced earlier this month, pending a hearing in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
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The DOJ is barred from any further action regarding the “creation or operation of the Anti-Weaponization Fund, which includes the transferring of money to the Fund; the consideration of any claims submitted to the Fund; and the disbursing of any funds from the Fund,” according to the brief order.
The judge set a hearing in the lawsuit for 10 a.m. June 12 and emphasized the importance of maintaining the status quo as motivation for halting the fund in the interim.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the fund on May 18, saying it was part of the DOJ’s efforts to compensate those who were allegedly unfairly targeted by the department, aiming to “make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again.” DOJ officials also said the fund would have “no partisan requirements,” but Democrats have been openly skeptical of that claim.
DOJ officials said the fund would sunset on Dec. 1, 2028, just before Trump leaves office, and any remaining money would revert to the federal government rather than to outside organizations.
BESSENT SLAMS NEWSOM’S 100% TAX ON ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND: ‘NO CURE FOR STUPID’
The “anti-weaponization fund” has drawn widespread pushback from Democrats and some Republican senators, who expressed concern about the DOJ seeking to award compensation. The fund has been the subject of multiple lawsuits, including the one in federal court in Virginia and another one filed in federal court in the District of Columbia by two police officers who worked during the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Several blue states have floated putting a 100% tax on payouts from the fund, including California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) called it a “January 6 slush fund.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed Newsom’s threat, saying at a press conference Thursday, “There is no cure for stupid.”
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