A federal judge in Virginia has temporarily blocked the disbursement of Donald Trump's $1.776bn 'anti-weaponization' fund, which critics from both parties and legal experts have denounced as a 'slush fund' for the president's allies. The fund, unveiled by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on 18 May, was intended to compensate alleged victims of 'lawfare', but opponents argue it will improperly benefit January 6 rioters and others who supported Trump.
The ruling on 29 May came in response to a lawsuit filed by a former January 6 prosecutor fired by the DoJ, along with other individuals and entities claiming they were targeted by the Trump administration. The judge ordered a halt to further moves to establish the fund and any payouts until a hearing scheduled for 12 June. No payments have been made yet as the fund is still being organised.
Legal challenges have mounted, including a motion by 35 former federal judges on 27 May to reopen Trump's lawsuit against the IRS, which was settled to create the fund. They alleged the settlement involved 'fraud on the court'. The Miami judge overseeing that case reopened it on 29 May to investigate whether the court was deceived. Critics also highlight a fund addendum that blocks IRS probes into Trump, his sons, and their businesses.
Former DoJ officials have sharply criticised the fund's legality and lack of transparency. Michael Bromwich, ex-DoJ inspector general, called it 'crazy and corrupt', describing it as 'an attempted political payoff to criminals'. Donald Ayer, former deputy attorney general under George HW Bush, labelled it 'outright theft', saying Trump is 'giving money away to his supporters who will claim some sort of personal abuse when they, in fact, have been the abusers'.
The DoJ announced on Monday that it would abide by the court ruling. Axios reported the fund is 'for now' dead, citing unnamed sources. Trump told ABC News: 'We are subject to the courts... If a court doesn't allow it, and right now a court has it held up, what can you do?' The fund's organisation also faces criticism for giving Trump the power to fire board members 'without cause'.
