Trump Sued by US Police Officers Over Anti-Weaponization Fund

Two US police officers have filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump over a $1.776 billion fund established to compensate victims of alleged government “weaponisation”. The fund is intended to provide financial support to individuals who claim they were treated unfairly by the justice system.

The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, alleges that the fund will likely be used to reward rioters who attacked the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges, who were injured during the attack, are seeking to have the fund dissolved in order to prevent taxpayer money from being disbursed to participants in the attack.

The lawsuit argues that if the fund is allowed to begin making payments, it will directly finance the violent operations of rioters, paramilitaries, and their supporters. The officers claim that Trump has signalled his intention to compensate the January 6 rioters, stating that they were “treated unfairly” by the justice system.

As part of a settlement between Trump and the Justice Department, the fund was established as part of a broader agreement. However, the lawsuit argues that this arrangement would allow Trump to reward violent participants with little oversight.

The officers continue to face violent threats and harassment as a result of their defence of the Capitol. They claim that compensating their attackers will encourage further violence and increase the risk of vigilante violence they face on a daily basis.

The Trump administration has refused to rule out paying January 6 participants from the fund, despite concerns about the potential consequences. The lawsuit is ongoing, with no further updates available at this time.

Source: Al Jazeera