Trump Administration Launches $1.8 Billion Anti-Weaponization Compensation Fund

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a compensation program for individuals claiming harm from “government weaponization.” The fund totals $1.8 billion (CNN) or $1.776 billion (Daily Beast). A five-member commission, appointed by the attorney general and removable by the president, will oversee payouts; one member will be chosen with congressional input, and commissioners will serve without pay.

CNN

The fund follows the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol assault, where participants attacked police. President Donald Trump later pardoned over 1,000 defendants, including violent offenders. Claimants have already filed for millions, prompting the Justice Department to propose the fund as a pre-emptive settlement.

Daily Beast

Fund size: $1.8 billion (CNN) vs $1.776 billion (Daily Beast). Commission: five unpaid members; one selected with congressional input. Applications: thousands filed, some seeking multi-million payouts. DOJ addendum bars IRS from probing Trump or his family’s past taxes.

CNN

Blanche said commissioners must consider “the claimant’s conduct,” noting a claimant could “say, ‘I assaulted a cop and I want money.’” He stressed the program is “not a ‘you’re going to get rich’ process” and is meant to avoid a “deluge of lawsuits.” Blanche added that the commission will set rules, privacy laws limit data release, and quarterly reports to the attorney general will be public.

CNN

Democratic Senators Chris Coons and Chris Van Hollen asked whether anyone convicted of assaulting police could receive a payout, calling the proposal an “outrageous and unprecedented slush fund.” Van Hollen pressed for a rule excluding violent offenders. Senator Jeff Merkley urged Blanche to encourage commissioners to weigh all factors. GOP Senator Susan Collins sought clarification on public reporting of claims.

Daily Beast

Sources list two different fund totals ($1.8 billion vs $1.776 billion). Eligibility rules are undefined, no commissioners have been named, and Blanche declined to say if political affiliation will affect appointments. The DOJ’s addendum barring IRS investigations was reported without explanation, leaving a transparency gap.

Daily Beast

• “One of the factors the commissioners have to consider is what the claimant did — the claimant’s conduct,” — Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General

CNN

• “This is not a ‘you’re going to get rich’ process.” — Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General

CNN

• “Would you commit that no one who’s been convicted of assaulting a police officer will receive a payout from this fund?” — Senator Chris Coons, Democrat

Daily Beast

• “Why not make that a rule?” — Senator Chris Van Hollen, Democrat

Daily Beast

• “I’m not committing to anything beyond the settlement agreement itself. When you say campaign donors, they’re not excluded from seeking compensation,” — Todd Blanche, Acting Attorney General

Daily Beast

Blanche is expected to name the commission’s members within weeks. The Senate subcommittee will hold further hearings on eligibility, and the Justice Department will issue quarterly commission reports. Lawmakers are considering legislation to bar payouts to individuals convicted of violence against police.

CNN