Federal Judge Halts Work On Trump’s ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’

The House Rules Committee last week rejected a Democratic amendment that would have barred people charged or convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot from receiving compensation through a newly announced federal restitution fund tied to the Trump administration.

The dispute centers on a $1.8 billion compensation fund announced Monday by the United States Department of Justice.

The fund is part of a broader settlement arrangement connected to President Trump dropping a $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the 2019 and 2020 leak of his tax returns by a contractor.

Critics have raised concerns because Congress has not formally appropriated the $1.8 billion and because attorneys representing Jan. 6 defendants have publicly indicated they may seek payments from the fund on behalf of their clients.

During the Rules Committee hearing, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) introduced an amendment that would have prohibited individuals charged or convicted in connection with the Capitol riot from receiving any compensation through the program, reports said.

“I move the committee add a new section to the rule providing immediate consideration of HR 7711, the No Rewards for January 6 Rioters Act, so this bill would prohibit the use of federal funds to compensate individuals who were prosecuted for their involvement in the attack on the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,” said McGovern.