{"id":2605045,"date":"2026-05-20T12:38:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T16:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/officers-who-defended-capitol-on-jan-6-sue-doj-over-anti-weaponization-fund\/"},"modified":"2026-05-20T12:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T16:40:14","slug":"officers-who-defended-capitol-on-jan-6-sue-doj-over-anti-weaponization-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/officers-who-defended-capitol-on-jan-6-sue-doj-over-anti-weaponization-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Officers who defended Capitol on Jan. 6 sue DOJ over anti-weaponization fund"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fofficers-who-defended-capitol-on-jan-6-sue-doj-over-anti-weaponization-fund%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2605045&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Former Capitol Police officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges filed a federal lawsuit to block the Trump governance\u2019s newly created $1.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-doj-announces-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund\/\" title=\"Trump DOJ announces .776 billion &#039;anti-weaponization&#039; fund\">776 billion \u201canti-weaponization fund<\/a>,\u201d arguing it could allow taxpayer money to compensate people who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/freedom-goes-global-finland-anti-lockdown-convoy-hits-helsinki\/\" title=\"Freedom Goes GLOBAL: Finland Anti-Lockdown Convoy Hits Helsinki\">assaulted law enforcement<\/a> during the jan. 6, 2021 attack.  <\/p>\n<p>The suit claims the program violates constitutional protections and federal law by effectively creating a rewards process for Capitol rioters and encouraging further violence, pointing to the harassment and threats they say they already face. Dunn is also running for Congress in Maryland\u2019s 5th District.  <\/p>\n<p>The fund was announced by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche as part of a settlement tied to Trump\u2019s earlier lawsuit against the IRS over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/for-five-straight-years-the-pulitzer-prizes-have-rewarded-misinformation\/\" title=\"For Five Straight Years, The Pulitzer Prizes Have Rewarded Misinformation\">leaked tax returns<\/a>. While officials say the fund is meant for people who can prove they were unfairly targeted through \u201cpolitically motivated\u201d prosecutions or investigations, they have not clearly ruled out whether convicted Jan. 6 defendants-including those who assaulted police-could be eligible, with an <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >independent commission reportedly determining eligibility<\/a>.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Former police officers who defended the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/us-capitol\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1408\">U.S. Capitol<\/a> during the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/january-6\/\">Jan. 6, 2021<\/a>, attack filed a lawsuit Wednesday seeking to block the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\">Trump administration\u2019s<\/a> newly created $1.776 billion \u201canti-weaponization fund,\u201d arguing it could compensate rioters who assaulted law enforcement during the riot. <\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit contends the fund violates constitutional protections and federal law by potentially allowing taxpayer money to flow to individuals involved in the Capitol attack. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4576491\/michael-caputo-first-claim-trump-anti-weaponization-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Michael Caputo files first claim to Trump\u2019s anti-weaponization fund<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4575263\/lawfare-compensation-fund-threatens-to-reopen-jan-6-debate-for-republicans\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Lawfare compensation fund threatens to reopen Jan. 6 debate for Republicans<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4575516\/trump-sons-exempt-tax-audits-irs\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump and his sons \u2018forever\u2019 exempt from tax audits under IRS addendum<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Former U.S. Capitol Police officer <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/harry-dunn\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11293\">Harry Dunn<\/a> and Metropolitan Police Department officer Daniel Hodges, both of whom became nationally known for defending the Capitol during the riot, filed the lawsuit in federal court. <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Dunn and Hodges argue the fund, announced this week by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/justice-department\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"167\">Justice Department<\/a> as part of a settlement resolving President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> lawsuit against the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/irs\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1081\">Internal Revenue Service<\/a> over leaked tax returns, unlawfully creates a compensation system for political allies and could benefit Jan. 6 defendants who were later pardoned by Trump. <\/p>\n<p>According <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292539\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292539.1.0.pdf\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292539\/gov.uscourts.dcd.292539.1.0.pdf\">to court filings<\/a>, the two former officers argue that the fund\u2019s existence encourages violence, such as what they experienced during the Capitol attack.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Fund\u2019s mere existence sends a clear and chilling message: those who enact violence in President Trump\u2019s name will not just avoid punishment, they will be rewarded with riches,\u201d the lawsuit argues. \u201cThat message, by itself, substantially increases the already sizeable risk of vigilante violence Dunn and Hodges face on a near-daily basis. And it encourages those who are harassing Dunn and Hodges, and sending them death threats, to up the ante.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Dunn is running for Congress in Maryland, the second time he\u2019s launched a campaign since Jan. 6, 2021. He is running to replace Rep. Steny Hoyer in Maryland\u2019s 5th District.<\/p>\n<p>The controversy centers on the $1.776 billion fund announced Monday by acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"20883\">Todd Blanche<\/a>. The Justice Department said the program is intended to provide a process for individuals who claim they were unfairly targeted by politically motivated prosecutions or investigations. <\/p>\n<p>The fund was established through a settlement agreement after Trump dropped a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and Treasury Department over the disclosure of his confidential tax information. Instead of Trump, two of his sons, and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-organization\/\">Trump Organization<\/a> receiving direct financial damages, they agreed to dismiss their lawsuit with prejudice in exchange for the claims process. <\/p>\n<p>Blanche and Vice President JD Vance have defended the fund as open to anyone who can demonstrate government \u201cweaponization,\u201d but administration officials have declined to rule out whether Jan. 6 defendants, including those convicted of assaulting police, could qualify for payments. <\/p>\n<p id=\"h-doj-announces-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund-for-biden-lawfare-victims\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4572715\/doj-announces-anti-weaponization-fund-biden-lawfare\/\"><strong>DOJ ANNOUNCES $1.776 BILLION \u2018ANTI-WEAPONIZATION\u2019 FUND FOR BIDEN LAWFARE VICTIMS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>During congressional testimony this week, Blanche said determining eligibility would be left to an independent five-person commission; Blanche will appoint the commission\u2019s members. <\/p>\n<p>The lawsuit lists Trump, Blanche, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as defendants.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former Capitol defenders sue to halt Trump\u2019s $1.776B anti-weaponization fund<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2605046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP24149806961553.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[80011,37371,42294,43068,50597],"class_list":["post-2605045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-anti-weaponization-fund","tag-capitol-riot","tag-court-filing","tag-doj-lawsuit","tag-jan-6-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP24149806961553.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2605045"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605045\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2605049,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2605045\/revisions\/2605049"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2605046"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2605045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2605045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2605045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}