U.S. DOJ faces scrutiny over $1.8 billion Trump anti‑weaponization fund

Retired federal judges filed a motion urging a federal court to reopen a lawsuit that created a $1.8 billion “anti‑weaponization” fund intended to compensate people they say were targeted by the government. The judges argue the settlement, part of a dispute between former President Donald Trump and the IRS over leaked tax returns, was collusive and should be investigated for fraud.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified before Congress that the Justice Department would not move forward with the fund after opposition from lawmakers and media scrutiny. Legal analysts warn that a Florida judge could find the DOJ’s defense of the fund to be “fraud upon the court,” potentially exposing senior officials, including Blanche, to serious legal ramifications. Concerns have also been raised that the fund could be used to reward participants in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, prompting a federal judge in Virginia to temporarily block its implementation.