Two police officers who defended the US Capitol during the January 6 insurrection have sued President Donald Trump over his plan to create a $1.776bn "anti-weaponization" fund. The fund, which critics have described as a slush fund, is intended to compensate allies of the president who he claims were victims of prosecutorial overreach.
The lawsuit, filed in US district court in Washington DC, was brought by Harry Dunn, a retired US Capitol police officer, and Daniel Hodges, a Metropolitan police department officer. They allege that the fund amounts to "the most brazen act of presidential corruption this century" and would finance "insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name."
The fund was created as part of an agreement in which Trump and his sons dropped a $10bn lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Dunn and Hodges both defended the west front of the Capitol during the attack. Hodges had a rioter attempt to gouge his eyes and was later seen nearly being crushed between metal doors. Dunn, who has struggled with PTSD, said the fund increases the danger they face from credible threats.
The acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, and the treasury secretary, Scott Bessent, are also named as defendants. Blanche refused to rule out that January 6 rioters would receive payouts, saying it was up to the fund's commissioners, whom he would appoint and Trump could fire at any time. Trump has defended the possibility, saying those involved had been "weaponized" and had their lives destroyed.
Vice-President JD Vance also declined to rule out payments to Capitol rioters during a White House briefing, adding that anyone would be welcome to apply, including Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son.
