DOJ Rebuffs Judge's Request to Put in Writing It Won't Move Forward with 'Anti-Weaponization' Fund
The DOJ in May announced it was creating the fund as part of a settlement of President Donald Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service.
TL;DR
- The Department of Justice stated it would be "unnecessary" to provide a written attestation that the "anti-weaponization" fund is off the table.
- The DOJ cited previous assurances to Congress by senior administration officials as sufficient.
- Judge Leonie Brinkema had requested sworn declarations from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche before dismissing a lawsuit seeking to permanently block the fund.
- The $1.8 billion fund is intended to compensate purported victims of prosecutorial overreach during the Biden administration.
- Critics fear the fund could be used to pay individuals charged with crimes related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
- The DOJ contends the judge's demand raises "serious separation of powers concerns."
- The fund was announced as part of a settlement of Donald Trump's lawsuit against the IRS regarding the leak of his tax records.