Cassidy, Booker urge judge to block ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
The senators said the fund threatens Congress’s authority as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers the Justice Department is not moving forward.
- On Wednesday, Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy and New Jersey Democrat Sen. Cory Booker filed an amicus brief urging a federal court to maintain its injunction against the $1.7 billion 'anti-weaponization fund,' calling it a 'dire threat' to the constitutional order.
- The fund originated from a settlement in President Donald Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over leaked tax returns. Critics argue it could compensate insurrectionists involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
- Last week, U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema temporarily barred the Department of Justice from disbursing money to maintain the status quo. The DOJ said Monday it 'strongly disagreed' with the decision but would abide by it.
- Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche testified Tuesday that the department is 'not moving forward with the fund.' Trump sidestepped questions on Wednesday, saying he would 'have to ask the lawyers' if the program is 'on hold.'
- Legislators argue the settlement violated the Constitution's 'Spending, Appropriations, and Appointments' clauses, striking at the core of Congressional authority. The fund previously threatened a $70 billion immigration enforcement package, drawing bipartisan opposition in the Senate.
21 Articles
21 Articles
GOP's latest blow to Trump reveals the truth about their 'feckless party': analysis
Republicans in Congress have gotten plaudits for their recent opposition to President Donald Trump's DOJ "slush fund," which may be temporarily stalled now, but according to a new breakdown from MS NOW, the achievement reveals something more damning about the "feckless party."Last month, the Justice Department attempted to settle Trump's lawsuit against the IRS by pitching a nearly $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund, to be paid out to victim…
Trump administration puts in writing to courts that the $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization’ fund is dead
By Devan Cole, Kaanita Iyer, CNN (CNN) — The Justice Department told two federal judges on Friday that cases challenging President Donald Trump’s “anti-weaponization fund” are moot because the administration has abandoned the program. The filings represent the first time the Trump administration has said in writing that it was no longer pursuing the fund, which was met with widespread criticism before acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said ea…
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