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Judge Keeps Door Open for Anti-Weaponization Fund Lawsuit
Confirmed
In Short: A federal judge overseeing a lawsuit against the Justice Department's Anti-Weaponization Fund remains skeptical that the Trump administration won't move forward with compensating allies.
U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema expressed doubt Friday that the $1.8 billion fund, aimed at compensating Trump allies, is truly defunct.
Despite the DOJ's push to dismiss the lawsuit, Brinkema indicated she might reject the effort, citing ongoing issues.
The judge suggested appointing an independent monitor to oversee payments from the DOJ's Judgment Fund as a potential remedy.
Brinkema also referenced a Florida judge's ruling that accused the DOJ of colluding with Trump's lawyers, further complicating the case.
What's confirmed
- "The issues that underlie this case are still alive and kicking in my view." Brinkema's statements throughout the hearing leave the door open for her to reject an effort by the Justice Department to dismiss the lawsuit brought by a range of plaintiffs who claim they could face potential harm if settlement payments are doled out to Trump's allies.
What's still developing
- A federal judge overseeing a lawsuit against the Justice Department said at a hearing Friday that she remains skeptical that the Trump administration won't move forward with improperly compensating allies of President Donald Trump who were prosecuted under the Biden administration, despite the DOJ's repeated statements that the $1.8 billion " Anti-Weaponization Fund " is dead.
- U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema, who is overseeing a lawsuit filed in May that sought to permanently block the fund, pointed to recent statements from top administration officials that she said suggests payments are still on the table for people like anti-abortion protesters convicted under the FACE Act and rioters who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
- A DOJ attorney in court for Friday's proceedings repeatedly urged Brinkema to dismiss the lawsuit, citing Attorney General Todd Blanche's statements under oath that the Anti-Weaponization Fund was no longer moving forward.
- At one point, Brinkema suggested that a potential remedy would be the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee payments out of the DOJ's Judgement Fund, which is typically the method used across administrations to dole out legal settlements with limited requirements for transparency.
- During the proceedings, Brinkema repeatedly pointed to the recent ruling by the federal judge in Florida who oversaw Trump's lawsuit against the IRS that was the genesis of the settlement that resulted in the brief establishment of the Anti-Weaponization Fund and an agreement that effectively immunized President Trump and members of his family from audits of their past tax returns.
- Judge Kathleen Williams, who oversaw the IRS lawsuit, accused the DOJ of engaging in collusive behavior with Trump's personal lawyers and abusing her court to give the settlement legitimacy.
- A federal judge intends to let lawsuits proceed against President Donald Trump's so-called "Anti-Weaponization Fund" after reports this week that it remains alive and well.
- Politico reported on Friday that U.S. District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema explained that public statements from the Trump administration indicated to her that both Trump and Attorney General Todd Blanche are working to keep the fund alive despite promises.