A federal judge has directed the Trump administration to identify the individuals who structured the nearly $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization fund,” a controversial initiative that Attorney General Todd Blanche has publicly declared “dead.” The ruling, issued on Friday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Ivan D. Davis in the Eastern District of Virginia, partially grants a motion from plaintiffs to compel discovery from the federal government.
Court Ruling and Immediate Reactions
According to a person present in the courtroom, the order requires the disclosure of the fund’s architects. The decision was first reported by The New York Times. Aman George, senior counsel at Democracy Forward, the nonprofit representing the plaintiffs, called the ruling “a significant step in getting to the bottom of the slush fund.” George added, “We will continue to meet the government in court until our investigation is complete and the slush fund is permanently halted.” The Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment on Friday evening.
Background of the Fund
The fund was established through a settlement agreement between President Donald Trump, two of his sons, his company, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). It aimed to allocate approximately $1.8 billion in taxpayer money as compensation for individuals who allegedly “suffered weaponization and lawfare.” This provision could extend to January 6 rioters who were convicted of violent crimes and later pardoned by Trump.
In May, a federal judge temporarily blocked the fund after a lawsuit was filed by a fired January 6 prosecutor and a law professor who had been sued by the Trump administration. Career IRS employees later joined the lawsuit, which challenged the agreement that granted the president and several family members immunity from IRS audits.
Bipartisan Criticism and Legal Loophole
The “anti-weaponization” fund drew bipartisan criticism in Washington, threatening Todd Blanche’s nomination as attorney general. Blanche subsequently stated in writing that the fund “is rescinded” and “there is no fund.” However, the document he signed did not include the signatories of the original agreement, leaving a legal loophole that could allow the fund and related IRS immunity to be revived later.
This loophole persists as Trump has not publicly denounced the fund. At a Cabinet meeting this summer, Trump, who has not ruled out payments to January 6 rioters, said, “The fund is dead, but you know, I wish it weren’t,” and reiterated his belief that those involved were “horribly treated.”
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
This week, Treniss Evans III, a January 6 defendant seeking a $1 million payout from the government, posted a photo of himself in Blanche’s office, though a person familiar with the matter said Evans did not meet with the attorney general. Evans had previously been sentenced to 20 days in prison and three years of probation for his role in the Capitol breach.
The court’s order marks a pivotal development in the plaintiffs’ efforts to uncover the origins of the fund and ensure its permanent termination. The case continues to unfold as legal challenges mount against the administration’s actions.