Federal Judge Blocks Trumps Anti-Weaponization Fund Proposal Temporarily

US District Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Anti-Weaponisation Fund

A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the administration of President Donald Trump’s nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponisation fund” to compensate victims of government investigations and cases. The decision came on Friday, with Judge Leonie Brinkema of the Eastern District of Virginia ordering that no further action be taken to set up or operate the fund while she hears additional legal arguments.

The judge has scheduled a June 12 hearing for arguments about whether to extend the order blocking payouts. The Department of Justice announced the fund last week as part of an agreement to settle a lawsuit brought on behalf of Donald Trump, in his personal capacity, against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The fund was established to be overseen by a five-member commission that would release money for individuals who can show they were victims of “lawfare” and “weaponisation”. The terms used by Trump and his allies to describe investigations and criminal cases against them. A group led by prosecutor Andrew Floyd filed the lawsuit, claiming that the fund would be partisan and only benefit Trump supporters.

The Justice Department has yet to form the commission that will decide on payout criteria, so no money has been paid out or claims accepted. The fund sparked a backlash from some lawmakers in Trump’s Republican Party, who expressed concerns about taxpayer-funded payouts for individuals involved in the January 6 US Capitol riot. Nearly 1,600 people were charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes, with over 1,200 convicted and sentenced before Trump handed out mass pardons and commuted prison sentences.

Source: Al Jazeera