DOJ hints at Jan. 6 payouts under controversial $1.8B fund

During a Senate appropriations hearing, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said payouts to people tied to the Jan. 6 riot could be made under the DOJ’s new $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, with “anybody in this country” eligible to apply, prompting bipartisan concerns about transparency and potential rewards for defendants; Blanche argued claims would be public via FOIA, though settlement terms mention confidentiality, while Republicans pressed for independent oversight of the payout process.