Thune Casts Doubt on Trump Settlement Fund Plan

"Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota and the majority leader, told reporters that he expected the idea would undergo a full vetting by appropriators, who control federal spending. My assumption is that based on some of the blowback that's come since this was announced, that there would be a significant amount of attention paid to it, Mr. Thune said. He told Punchbowl News that he was not a big fan of the plan and saw no need for it."

"Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican who has staked out a position as a fiscal hawk, said he supported the administration's plan for tapping the Justice Department's fund. A lot of people have been abused by the federal government, he said, adding that he thought they should have some way to seek recourse. It was not immediately clear how widespread resistance would be to the idea, which some Republicans hailed as an appropriate use of federal resources."

"In a hearing on Tuesday with Todd Blanche, the acting attorney general, Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine and the chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, raised several questions about the fund, including its legal basis, how eligibility for compensation would be determined and how amounts would be set. She noted that the Treasury's long-established Judgment Fund had traditionally been used for the payment of specific claims against the government or amounts owed for the settlement of those claims, but not for future claims that have yet to be brought."

Republican Senate leaders cast doubt on President Trump’s plan to use $1.8 billion from a government fund to compensate people claiming politically motivated prosecutions. Senator John Thune said Congress, particularly appropriators who control federal spending, would scrutinize the proposal and that he was not a fan of it. Senator Ron Johnson supported the plan, saying people have been abused by the federal government and should have a way to seek recourse. Senator Susan Collins, chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee, raised questions about the fund’s legal basis, how eligibility would be determined, and how compensation amounts would be set. She noted the Treasury’s Judgment Fund has typically paid specific existing claims or settlement amounts, not future claims not yet brought.

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