On May 23, Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia issued a temporary order preventing the Trump administration from taking any action to establish or operate a nearly $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund. The fund was created to compensate people Trump calls victims of 'lawfare' and 'weaponization' — terms he and his allies use to describe investigations and criminal cases targeting them.
Judge Brinkema, appointed by President Bill Clinton, scheduled a hearing for June 12 to argue over whether to extend the order blocking payments from the fund. The decision came in a lawsuit filed by Andrew Floyd — a prosecutor involved in cases related to the January 6, 2021 riot — along with a group of plaintiffs. The lawsuit alleges the fund is partisan, supporting only Trump supporters rather than his political opponents.
The fund stems from a settlement in a lawsuit Trump (as an individual) filed against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), related to allegations that former contractor Charles Edward Littlejohn leaked his tax records to journalists. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the fund last week, which was to be overseen by a five-member committee tasked with disbursing money to people who prove they are victims of 'lawfare' and 'weaponization.' However, the committee has not been formed, so no money has been paid or claims accepted.
The fund has sparked strong opposition, even from some Republican lawmakers. They expressed anger that January 6, 2021 Capitol attackers could receive compensation from public funds. During a congressional hearing earlier this month, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche did not rule out the possibility that rioters who assaulted police during the event would also qualify for support.
Nearly 1,600 people have been charged in connection with the Capitol riot. More than 1,200 were convicted and sentenced before Trump issued blanket pardons, commuted sentences, and ordered all pending criminal cases related to January 6 to be dismissed last year.
