Newsom vows California will impose 100% tax on Trump's $1.8 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'

California Governor Gavin Newsom said California would impose a 100% tax on any money from a $1.8 billion compensation fund created by the Trump administration. The fund is intended to pay people who claim they were targeted or victimized by the Biden administration. The Justice Department described the fund as an “anti-weaponization” effort, and it has drawn bipartisan backlash. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Republican senators amid the criticism. Blanche said people who hurt police get money all the time, while also stating it would be abhorrent to touch a law enforcement officer. He said individuals could apply for claims, including Jan. 6 rioters, but receiving payments is not guaranteed.

"“One thing that I think we're going to try to do, with your support, is tax 100% anyone from California that receives any of those funds,” Newsom said during a news conference in his office. “And that's an action the state of California can take. It's an action we look forward to taking.”"

"The Justice Department announced the creation of the $1.8 billion fund that could pay settlements to those claiming “victimization” by the government, a group that could include rioters from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol."

"Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Republican senators at the Capitol last week to try to quell the backlash over the “anti-weaponization fund,” but sources told ABC News that the meeting was tense, with some allies to President Donald Trump speaking out against it and one telling Blanche, “You created this s--- sandwich, you got to figure it out.”"

"Asked by CNN about the possibility of those people receiving payments from the fund on Wednesday, Blanche replied, “People that hurt police get money all the time.” But Blanche then added it would be “abhorrent to ever, ever touch a law enforcement officer” and said it as “a completely different question with whether an individual is allowed to apply for a claim” and “whether they'll get a claim.”"

Read at ABC7 Los Angeles