Cassidy joins brief opposing Trump-related legal relief fund

Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, has joined a legal brief with Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, opposing President Donald Trump’s socalled antiweaponization fund. The filing argues that the $1.8 billion fund poses a serious threat to Congress’ spending authority and the constitutional order. The brief was submitted in a Virginia case that is challenging the fund, which a court temporarily blocked in May. The senators say the arrangement could violate constitutional limits on spending, appropriations, and appointments, and they urged the court to keep the injunction in place. The fund was created as part of a settlement tied to Trump’s lawsuit over the leak of his tax returns. Critics in Congress are also considering legislative changes that could eliminate the fund, while Justice Department officials have said they do not plan to move forward with it.