Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Anti-Weaponization Fund

A federal judge has placed an indefinite hold on the Trump administration’s proposed $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund. This follows a recent decision by another federal judge, who chose not to intervene after the Justice Department announced that the fund’s implementation couldn’t continue.

The ongoing legal dispute has prompted calls for the government to officially terminate the fund. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche informed Congress that creating the fund is off the table, but the settlement agreement and related directives remain formally intact. Critics argue that this situation leaves the door open for the fund to be revitalized in the future.

U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, appointed by Clinton, reiterated her order to block the fund, asserting that assurances from government officials were insufficient to quell fears that it might be revived later. She mentioned that Trump was “disappointed that things aren’t moving forward,” hinting that this might signal a possibility for the fund’s future revival.

Over the weekend, during an appearance on “Meet the Press,” Trump expressed a desire to keep the fund alive, suggesting, “If it were up to me, I would pay them what they deserve. People were destroyed, lives were destroyed.”

Brinkema has given the Justice Department one week to formally declare the anti-weaponization fund will be canceled and will not be reinstated. This ruling came shortly after a separate judge, Richard Leon, denied a request from Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) for immediate intervention, stating he would trust the Justice Department’s claim that the funds were effectively abandoned.

Leon, appointed by George W. Bush, also cautioned administration officials against treating his decision as a free pass to reinstate the fund. “I warn the Department of Justice: Don’t play possum with me,” he remarked from the bench.

Blanche had previously disclosed during a hearing that the Anti-Weaponization Fund, established as part of a lawsuit settlement between Trump and the IRS, won’t proceed. The fund aimed to compensate alleged victims of certain government actions. Its inception sparked a backlash from Democrats, who denounced it as a “slush fund” potentially benefiting Trump’s political allies and individuals linked to the January 6 Capitol incident.

Justice Department attorney Andrew Block argued that Blanche’s testimony before Congress formed the basis for CREW’s challenge since the government had publicly committed to halting progress on the fund. Leon pressed Block on why formal revocation of the May 18 order for fund procedures had not occurred, a query Block struggled to address.

CREW’s legal representative, Nickel Sass, contended that the settlement establishing the fund remains valid and that there’s an obligation to act. A board overseeing the fund must be in place by June 17, with fund transfers anticipated by July 17, according to Sass.

Sass claimed, “On paper, this fund is still operating legally.” Yet, ultimately, Leon accepted the government assurances, commenting that while the fund isn’t moot presently, he could sanction attorneys who provide false statements in court.

He also stated he would keep considering CREW’s request for a preliminary injunction and might take action if there were signs of the administration attempting to revive the fund.