Judge extends block on DOJ anti-weaponization fund
Virginia judge extends block on $1.8B DOJ fund tied to Trump-era settlement Officials must prove the fund won’t return as lawsuits and scrutiny continue
A federal judge in Virginia has extended a block on a Justice Department fund linked to a Trumpera settlement, saying the government has not provided enough assurance that the program will not move forward.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema gave Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent a week to submit written, sworn declarations confirming that the $1.8 billion fund is not being revived. Blanche has said in congressional testimony that the DOJ has no plans to continue the fund, but the judge said that statement alone was not sufficient.
The disputed fund was announced as part of a settlement involving Donald Trump’s lawsuit over the release of his tax records. Critics argued the money could be used to compensate people tied to prosecutions related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The DOJ said after the hearing that there is no fund, while plaintiffs and advocacy groups are still seeking to block it permanently.