{"id":2610248,"date":"2026-06-03T16:32:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T20:32:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-official-deletes-post-suggesting-new-path-to-compensate-lawfare-victims\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T16:42:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T20:42:33","slug":"trump-official-deletes-post-suggesting-new-path-to-compensate-lawfare-victims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-official-deletes-post-suggesting-new-path-to-compensate-lawfare-victims\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump official deletes post suggesting new path to compensate lawfare victims"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/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%2Ftrump-official-deletes-post-suggesting-new-path-to-compensate-lawfare-victims%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=2610248&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>A senior DOJ official, Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, deleted a social media post Wednesday that suggested the Trump administration may still be pursuing ways to compensate people it says were wrongly targeted during the Biden era. His comment appeared to endorse Sen.Lindsey Graham\u2019s idea that victims could seek compensation through the Federal Tort Claims Act.The deletion came shortly after acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers the controversial \u201canti-weaponization\u201d reimbursement fund would not proceed.<\/p>\n<p>The underlying dispute involves a proposed $1.776 billion (reported elsewhere as about $1.8 billion) commission-based compensation plan stemming from a Trump settlement that resolved multiple related government cases. Critics called it a \u201cslush fund,\u201d warning it could reward politically connected individuals, including some Jan. 6 defendants pardoned after Trump returned to office. Resistance from Republicans and Democrats alike helped push the administration to retreat from the dedicated fund this week, amid concerns it could also endanger larger immigration and border legislation and force votes on broader bans.<\/p>\n<p>Even with Blanche\u2019s assurances and temporary court blocks, lawmakers and critics remain concerned the administration could pursue alternate reimbursement mechanisms under existing legal settlement authorities-meaning an end to the specific fund might not end the broader effort to provide payments. Trump has suggested he still supports the general concept of compensating those he views as harmed by misconduct, and Woodward\u2019s deleted post is likely to intensify scrutiny and political pressure.  <\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A top <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a> official deleted a social media post Wednesday that appeared to signal the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a> was exploring an alternative avenue to compensate people it believes were targeted by <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/biden-administration\/\">Biden administration<\/a>-era \u201cweaponization,\u201d raising fresh questions about whether a controversial $1.8 billion reimbursement plan is truly dead.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The post by Associate Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4567774\/doj-dc-bar-weaponizing-discipline\/\">Stanley Woodward<\/a> surfaced less than a day after Acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a> assured lawmakers that the administration was abandoning plans for a proposed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4589874\/trump-hits-pause-doj-anti-weaponization-fund\/\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-doj-announces-1-776-billion-anti-weaponization-fund\/\" title=\"... DOJ announces ....... &#039;anti-weaponization&#039; fund\">anti-weaponization fund<\/a><\/a> that had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dhs-expects-18k-illegals-per-day-after-title-42-lifted\/\" title=\"DHS Expects 18k Illegals Per Day After Title 42 Lifted\">sparked bipartisan criticism<\/a> on Capitol Hill.<\/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\/policy\/finance\/4593233\/trump-official-deletes-post-new-path-compensate-lawfare-victims\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump official deletes post suggesting new path to compensate victims of lawfare<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4583796\/trump-dumpsters-garbage-lincoln-memorial-reflecting-pool\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Trump says 10 dumpsters full of garbage were taken out of Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4579199\/watch-live-trump-swears-in-kevin-warsh-white-house\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>WATCH LIVE: Trump swears in Kevin Warsh at the White House<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">UPDATE: DOJ&#8217;s nod to Graham&#8217;s idea seems to be gone <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pKA8SXTT5F\">https:\/\/t.co\/pKA8SXTT5F<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/jFuBjY0OWy\">https:\/\/t.co\/jFuBjY0OWy<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\u2014 Josh Gerstein (@joshgerstein) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/joshgerstein\/status\/2062146464038469964?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 3, 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re on it,\u201d Woodward wrote late Tuesday in response to a post from Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lindsey-graham\/\">Lindsey Graham<\/a> (R-SC) suggesting that victims of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/democrats-think-hunter-biden-verdict-negates-gop-two-tiered-argument\/\" title=\"Democrats believe Hunter Biden&#039;s verdict undermines GOP&#039;s &#039;two-tiered justice&#039; claim\">alleged political targeting<\/a> could instead seek compensation through claims under the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/crs-product\/R45732\">Federal Tort Claims Act<\/a>. The post was deleted Wednesday morning, with no context about why it was deleted or if plans had changed yet again.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Woodward\u2019s comment quickly drew attention because it appeared to endorse an alternative pathway for compensating individuals who claim they were unfairly investigated or prosecuted during former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\">Joe Biden<\/a>\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The controversy centers on a proposed $1.776 billion fund negotiated as part of President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s settlement of a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. The agreement also resolved two civil claims tied to the Russia investigation and the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\">FBI<\/a>\u2019s 2022 search of Trump\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mar-a-lago\/\">Mar-a-Lago<\/a> estate.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposal would have created a five-member commission to review compensation claims from individuals who argued they had been subjected to political targeting by the federal government.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Critics immediately dubbed the proposal a \u201cslush fund,\u201d warning it could allow payments to some of the roughly 1,500 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/january-6\/\">Jan. 6 defendants<\/a> pardoned by Trump after returning to office.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Facing mounting resistance from both parties, the administration backed away from the proposal this week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The controversy had begun spilling beyond the fund itself and into Trump\u2019s broader legislative agenda. Senate Republicans warned that continued uncertainty over the proposal could jeopardize a roughly $72 billion budget reconciliation bill designed to fund <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ice\/\">Immigration and Customs Enforcement<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/border-patrol\/\">Border Patrol<\/a> operations through 2029.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) publicly urged the administration to abandon the fund, arguing lawmakers should instead return to a narrowly focused immigration bill. Other Republicans warned that keeping the proposal alive could complicate both the reconciliation legislation and annual government funding bills.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Senate Democrats, meanwhile, vowed to force votes on outright bans of the fund. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) argued that the administration\u2019s promises were insufficient and announced plans to offer amendments permanently prohibiting any future anti-weaponization fund.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During testimony Tuesday before the House Appropriations Committee, Blanche sought to reassure skeptical lawmakers that the plan would not move forward.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe are not moving forward with the fund. Period,\u201d Blanche told lawmakers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4592077\/blanche-weaponization-fund-dead-for-good\/\">When pressed<\/a> by Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) on whether the administration was \u201cnot moving forward ever\u201d with the fund, Blanche responded, \u201cCorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those assurances came after several Republican senators signaled they would not support a massive immigration and border security package unless the administration clearly abandoned the proposal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sens. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/susan-collins\/\">Susan Collins<\/a> (R-MN), John Curtis (R-UT), and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lisa-murkowski\/\">Lisa Murkowski<\/a> (R-AK) were among Republicans who publicly demanded stronger commitments from the DOJ, while Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/thom-tillis\/\">Thom Tillis<\/a> (R-NC) prepared legislation that would permanently prohibit the creation of such a fund.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The political fallout grew large enough that lawmakers warned it could jeopardize passage of broader $72 billion legislation funding immigration enforcement priorities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even after Blanche\u2019s testimony, however, some lawmakers remained concerned that the administration could pursue other mechanisms for compensating alleged victims of government misconduct.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Woodward\u2019s now-deleted post is likely to intensify those concerns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Under existing law, the DOJ already has the authority to settle lawsuits and legal claims against the federal government through the Treasury Department\u2019s Judgment Fund and other settlement mechanisms. As a result, the demise of the dedicated anti-weaponization fund does not necessarily foreclose compensation claims by individuals who successfully establish legal liability against the government.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem remains politically sensitive because some Trump allies have argued that people prosecuted in connection with Jan. 6 or other <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >politically charged investigations deserve compensation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-johnson\/\">Ron Johnson<\/a> (R-WI) defended the concept this week, arguing that some individuals were financially ruined by prosecutions he views as unjust. Meanwhile, some Republicans, including Reps. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/rep-andrew-clyde\/\">Andrew Clyde<\/a> (GA) and Scott Perry (PA) lamented the DOJ\u2019s abandonment of the fund.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other Republicans have sharply disagreed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/opinion\/trump-anti-weaponization-fund-congress-republicans-irs-252b8665?st=i5V2mX\">opinion<\/a> column published after the administration announced it would abandon the fund, Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/john-cornyn\/\">John Cornyn<\/a> (R-TX) urged Congress to permanently block any future effort to revive it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cornyn, who is fresh off of his primary election defeat to Trump-endorsed <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/texas\/\">Texas<\/a> Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ken-paxton\/\">Ken Paxton<\/a>, argued that directing nearly $1.8 billion in taxpayer money to compensate Trump allies would establish a troubling precedent and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4581501\/anti-weaponization-fund-democrat-settlements\/\">expose Republicans to political attacks. <\/a>He called on lawmakers to enact legislation ensuring the proposal could not be revived later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Trump indicated Tuesday that he still supports the underlying concept of compensating people he believes were wrongfully targeted by the government.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking on the <em>New York Post<\/em>\u2018s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=SLnB5l1PxCY\">\u201cPod Force One\u201d podcast<\/a>, Trump said the administration was stepping back from the fund because \u201cthe court ruled against it,\u201d but added that individuals he pardoned should be \u201creimbursed for a crooked government.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4592077\/blanche-weaponization-fund-dead-for-good\/\">TODD BLANCHE SAYS DOJ WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH ANTI-WEAPONIZATION FUND<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The legal fight over the proposal remains in flux. Last week, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, temporarily blocked the DOJ from implementing the fund and scheduled a hearing for June 12 while she considers a challenge brought by opponents of the plan.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Woodward\u2019s deleted message is likely to fuel scrutiny from Democrats who argue the administration is still searching for ways to provide payments despite Blanche\u2019s public assurances that the fund itself is no longer moving forward.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Justice DOJ official deletes post hinting possible alternative to a $1.8B anti-weaponization payout<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2610249,"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\/06\/AP23293649313860.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[41877,16727,38518,32364,3634],"class_list":["post-2610248","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-justice-reform","tag-lawfare","tag-legal-strategy","tag-social-media","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/AP23293649313860.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610248","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\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2610248"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2610252,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2610248\/revisions\/2610252"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2610249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2610248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2610248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2610248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}