{"id":2654900,"date":"2026-09-04T21:54:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-05T01:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-orders-doj-to-identify-masterminds-behind-defunct-lawfare-fund\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T21:55:43","modified_gmt":"2026-09-05T01:55:43","slug":"judge-orders-doj-to-identify-masterminds-behind-defunct-lawfare-fund","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-orders-doj-to-identify-masterminds-behind-defunct-lawfare-fund\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge orders DOJ to identify masterminds behind defunct lawfare 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\">20<\/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%2Fjudge-orders-doj-to-identify-masterminds-behind-defunct-lawfare-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=2654900&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 federal judge ordered the Department of Justice (DOJ) to disclose the identities of those responsible for creating the now-canceled $1.8 billion \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund aimed at compensating individuals who claimed they were improperly targeted by federal investigations. The ruling came as part of a lawsuit challenging the fund, which was initially announced by the DOJ in May as part of a settlement related to President Trump\u2019s $10 billion lawsuit over the leak of his tax records. The fund faced bipartisan backlash, especially regarding potential payouts to those involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, leading to its cancellation after objections from Trump and Attorney general Todd Blanche. <\/p>\n<p>The judge\u2019s order requires the DOJ to reveal who conceived and designed the fund, though the scope is narrower than plaintiffs initially requested, who sought broader disclosure of all individuals involved. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/doj-wants-to-move-male-inmates-in-transgender-case-into-specialized-unit\/\" title=\"... wants to move male inmates in transgender ... into specialized unit\">case highlights ongoing legal disputes<\/a>, including requests for documents about the fund\u2019s development. The ruling stipulates that the information about the fund\u2019s creators be kept confidential during the litigation process. the decision marks a notable development in uncovering the origins and planning behind the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >controversial fund amidst ongoing legal challenges<\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A federal judge on Friday ordered the<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"438\"> Department of Justice <\/a>to reveal the masterminds behind the now-dead $1.8 billion \u201canti-weaponization\u201d fund intended to compensate people who claim the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-government\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1482\">federal government<\/a> improperly targeted them in investigations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis ruled that the DOJ must turn over the names as part of a lawsuit challenging the fund, which Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"20883\">Todd Blanche<\/a> has since said is canceled.<\/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\/4714866\/judge-doj-identify-masterminds-anti-weaponization-fund\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Judge orders DOJ to identify masterminds behind defunct $1.8 billion \u2018anti-weaponization\u2019 fund<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4714638\/doj-charge-illegal-voter-pennsylvania-new-jersey-wisconsin\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ charges illegal voters in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wisconsin<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4714388\/mullin-doj-voter-data-sharing-zuckerberg\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mullin asks DOJ to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dhs-asks-doj-to-review-voter-data-sharing-tied-to-zuckerberg-funded-group\/\" title=\"DHS asks ... to review voter data sharing tied to Zuckerberg-...ed group\">review voter data sharing tied<\/a> to Zuckerberg-funded nonprofit group<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWho came up with it? That\u2019s what conception means,\u201d Davis said during a hearing in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/09\/04\/judge-orders-doj-disclose-who-conceived-now-defunct-payout-fund\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/politics\/2026\/09\/04\/judge-orders-doj-disclose-who-conceived-now-defunct-payout-fund\/\">according to<\/a> the <em>Washington Post<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ruling is narrower than what the plaintiffs had requested. Plaintiffs sought information identifying people involved in conceiving, creating, and carrying out the fund. Davis said such a sweeping request began to resemble a \u201cfishing expedition,\u201d but determined the identities of those who designed the fund were relevant to the case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fund was announced by the DOJ in May as part of an agreement settling President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax records. The proposal would have directed money from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/treasury-department\/\">Treasury Department<\/a>\u2019s Judgment Fund to compensate people who claimed they were politically targeted by federal investigations during the Biden administration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The proposal quickly drew bipartisan backlash on Capitol Hill, particularly over the possibility that people prosecuted for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot could receive payouts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump and Blanche said the administration would no longer move forward with the fund, as it caused a kerfuffle with GOP senators, posing a threat to Blanche\u2019s attorney general nomination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4714331\/fake-rnc-midterm-convention-doj-epstein-files\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4714331\/fake-rnc-midterm-convention-doj-epstein-files\/\">FAKE RNC MIDTERM LINK REROUTES TO DOJ EPSTEIN FILES<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But lawsuits challenging the proposal have continued. The Virginia case has reached discovery, allowing the challengers to seek documents and information about how the program was developed. The plaintiffs include former federal prosecutor Andrew Floyd, who worked on Jan. 6 cases before being fired by the Trump administration.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Davis\u2019s Friday ruling means the government must now disclose who devised the fund\u2019s structure, but the information will not necessarily be made available to the public. Davis directed the parties to treat discovery materials as protected from public disclosure while the litigation continues.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judge orders DOJ to reveal creators of $1.8B anti-weaponization fund<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2654901,"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\/09\/doj-lawfare-fund-masterminds.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[35038,7076,16727,57386,17467],"class_list":["post-2654900","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-court-order","tag-doj","tag-lawfare","tag-legal-investigation","tag-masterminds"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/doj-lawfare-fund-masterminds.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654900","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=2654900"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654900\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2654904,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654900\/revisions\/2654904"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2654901"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2654900"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2654900"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2654900"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}