All articles tagged with #anti weaponization fund
Sen. Thom Tillis criticized Trump's proposed $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund intended to compensate Jan. 6 rioters, calling it 'stupid on stilts' and 'horrible politics' with 'horrible timing.' He warned that some claimants could be convicted attackers and reported GOP pushback as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche faced scrutiny at a Senate meeting, urging the idea be reconsidered by Trump’s team.
Sen. Thom Tillis blasted the DOJ's $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund on CNN, calling it 'stupid on stilts' and a 'payout pot for punks,' arguing relief should go to warfare victims rather than those convicted of crimes. The fund would compensate people who say they were targeted for political prosecutions and is tied to a Trump-IRS settlement over leaked tax returns; it has drawn bipartisan opposition and bills to block it, with lawmakers like Fitzpatrick and Suozzi pushing back and even McConnell condemning the idea. Tillis also criticized Iran deal terms, saying the administration's posture doesn’t make sense.
The White House’s push for an $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund and a personal-project agenda has exposed fresh rifts with Senate Republicans, who fear the fight could derail immigration talks and hurt GOP prospects ahead of the November elections. Trump remains defiant, citing recent primary wins and insisting unity, while lawmakers push back, warning the internal battles risk the party’s control of the Senate unless there’s a reset.
During a two-hour briefing on the DOJ's nearly $1.8B 'anti-weaponization fund,' Cruz said Republicans erupted in anger, with about half of the roughly 45 attendees opposing it; Blanche insisted the fund wouldn't fund Jan. 6 defendants or tie to reconciliation, while Democrats pressed amendments, leading to postponed votes for Memorial Day recess.
The DOJ's $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund, created to settle a lawsuit over Trump's IRS records, has drawn sharp GOP criticism and stalled government funding legislation, with lawmakers warning it could pay those who assaulted police on Jan 6. The fund is overseen by a five-member commission and could be claimed by Trump allies like Michael Caputo and Michael Cohen.
A coalition including a former January 6 prosecutor and a professor acquitted in a related case filed in Virginia to block an $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization' fund, arguing it lacks legal authority, discriminates in favor of supporters of the Trump administration, and was created as part of a settlement not overseen by a court.
Trump said on Truth Social that he allowed the Justice Department’s $1.7 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund to proceed, reversing earlier claims that he wasn’t involved in its creation; the fund is designed to compensate victims of “weaponization” and lawfare, with a board appointed by the attorney general to determine payments. The White House maintains he wasn’t involved in creating the fund but could have settled his IRS-related case to prevent it, while GOP lawmakers press for more detail on how the program will operate and who could qualify for payouts.
President Trump defended the $1.776 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund amid broad GOP opposition that halted a party-line reconciliation package; Democrats and several Republicans criticized the fund’s unilateral rollout and possible payouts tied to Jan. 6, while lawmakers push for more information from the Justice Department as the program, overseen by a five-member DOJ-appointed panel, could run through 2028 and remain a flashpoint in Capitol Hill battles.
President Trump lashed out at Republicans, including Sen. Thom Tillis, over an $1.8 billion Anti-Weaponization Fund—created as part of a settlement in Trump’s $10 billion IRS lawsuit—to compensate those alleged to have been targeted, including Jan. 6 rioters. Tillis derides the fund as a “payout pot for punks,” and other GOP critics push back, contributing to delays on votes for a broader immigration bill as lawmakers seek to rein in spending and Trump’s allies. The dispute highlights a growing rift inside the party as Trump frames the issue as justice against what he calls weaponization by the Biden administration.
Michael Cohen says he will apply for the Justice Department’s new $1.776 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' to seek relief for what he calls politically motivated government actions; he is drafting and plans to submit a claim letter to the DOJ. The fund, created as part of a settlement over Trump-era issues, allows individuals alleging weaponization of the legal system to seek compensation, with a five-person panel appointed by the AG deciding claims. Cohen’s move aligns him with other Trump critics and supporters who have signaled interest, while ethics groups have criticized the fund.
Trump’s $1.776 billion settlement to create an “anti-weaponization” fund has drawn limited defense on Capitol Hill, with most supporters coming from the administration and critics arguing the terms lack accountability and judicial oversight. The fund would empower five Trump-appointed commissioners to distribute money with confidentiality and little requirement for court involvement, and even permit immunity for Trump, his sons, and his business in past tax issues. Critics compare it unfavorably to court-approved settlements like Keepseagle, and concerns about funding those who weren’t plaintiffs (including some January 6 defendants) and about weaponizing government persist. A rare Republican defender hedges his support, underscoring that the overarching principle is avoiding political weaponization rather than endorsing the settlement’s specifics, while lawmakers promise congressional oversight.
A faction of Republicans is pushing to kill Trump's anti-weaponization fund, describing it as wasteful and a 'payout pot for punks,' signaling a broader GOP effort to cut or rework funding amid ongoing budget battles.
House Republicans are delaying a vote on their immigration-enforcement bill until after the Memorial Day recess, risking missing President Trump's June 1 deadline as the Senate has not released final text; leadership says they’ll resume after the break, while intra-GOP tensions over an $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund and related spending complicate the process, with Democrats planning floor amendments tied to budget reconciliation.
DOJ released a one-page memo to GOP senators detailing how the $1.776B anti-weaponization fund will work, including eligibility for claims by people affected by 'lawfare and weaponization' (censorship online, school boards, FBI actions, etc.). The memo says there are no partisan restrictions on who can file (Democrats can participate) and that the Trump family cannot benefit, though it does not explain how that ban will be enforced. The fund was created after a settlement with the IRS over Trump's tax returns.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche will meet with Senate Republicans to discuss the Justice Department’s $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund amid GOP efforts to curb or block it as they push a reconciliation package with immigration enforcement provisions; meanwhile, the House weighs delaying votes to Memorial Day and Democrats plan amendments targeting the fund and other Trump-related issues.