US judge lets lawsuit over Trump’s $1.8 billion anti‑weaponization fund proceed

Federal Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia ruled that a lawsuit challenging the Department of Justice’s $1.8 billion “anti‑weaponization” fund can move forward. The judge rejected the DOJ’s claim that the fund is dead because the department has not provided a sworn written declaration. She ordered the DOJ to file an answer by July 17 and warned that a short, written declaration under penalty of perjury would have been sufficient to dismiss the case. The fund, announced in May, was designed to compensate individuals who allege they were targeted by the Biden administration and was tied to Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS and other civil claims. Critics have called the initiative a “slush fund” that could pay allies of Trump, including those convicted for the Jan 6 Capitol attack. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche’s verbal testimony was deemed insufficient by the court. The lawsuit will now proceed, with discovery set to begin on June 22, highlighting ongoing legal and political disputes over the fund’s status and potential use.